Gov. Jim Doyle's clean energy bill did not become law after the state Senate failed to vote on it Thursday, the last day of this year's legislative session.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act aimed to create 15,000 new jobs in the state's growing alternative energy industry by 2025, according to a statement. The proposed legislation detailed goals and strategies for advancing renewable energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in Wisconsin.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, who introduced the Assembly version of the bill, said the initiative would have improved the state's economy and environment and that he is ""extremely disappointed"" in the state Senate's decision.
""I think the Senate has been derelict in its duty by failing to take up and pass this legislation,"" Black said. ""It's especially shameful that the state Senate would act in this way on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.""
Environmentalists, farmers, many businesses and others supported the bill, according to Black. However, it faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate, including that of Majority Leader Russell Decker, D-Wausau, and Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.
The bill outlined goals to reduce emissions to 2005 levels by 2014 and would have mandated that all new buildings constructed after 2029 be ""zero-net buildings,"" using only energy they generate on-site from renewable sources. Senators who opposed the bill said it would have raised utility prices and established new building codes.
""All of that would have an impact on Wisconsin taxpayers and Wisconsin employers, raising the costs to build homes [and] commercial buildings,"" Kimber Liedl, Fitzgerald's spokesperson, said.
State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said these added financial burdens would have been overwhelming for some Wisconsinites.
""I think at a time when our economy is in such precarious shape, to take up a bill which would have forced electric rates up for Wisconsin's manufacturing community as well as low-income citizens was callous to the extreme,"" Grothman said.
The state Legislature adjourned Friday until January, but Black said he hopes Doyle will call a special legislative session specifically for this issue. Otherwise, the Legislature could consider it again next year.
""Bills never die,"" Black said. ""But the time to pass this legislation is now.""
