Scott Walker's Record of Failure – Environment
Scott Walker's Budget Rolls Back Clean Water Protections
Hidden in Scott Walker's disastrous budget was a provision that reduced clean water standards and a plan to eliminate municipal stormwater standards that regulate pollutants running off streets, parking lots and other urban surfaces. According to Todd Ambs, the former head of the Division of Water in the state's Department of Natural Resources, Walker's proposals may put Wisconsin in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. ["Walker's proposal may violate Clean Water Act," Wisconsin State Journal, 3/14/2011]
Citing Scott Walker's Hostility to Green Jobs, Developer Cancels Wind Farm Plans
In March 2011, Invenergy LLC withdrew its application to build a 100-turbine wind farm in the Green Bay area: a direct result of Scott Walker's extensive plans to cripple the clean energy industry in Wisconsin. The wind farm would have generated $600,000 in revenue to Brown County and four municipalities. Invenergy was prepared to support a payroll of over $10 million during the construction process. ["Developer cancels wind farm plans," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/21/2011]
Scott Walker’s Budget Eliminates Funding For Recycling
Scott Walker proposed the elimination of state-mandated recycling in his backwards budget and the funds, $32 million, to pay for it. Without state funds, smaller communities would have to eliminate their recycling programs completely, according to the Department of Natural Resources. [“State recycling mandate, funding eliminated under Walker's budget,” Wisconsin State Journal, 3/1/2011]
Scott Walker Shuts Down High Speed Rail
Before taking office, then-Gov. elect Walker worked to shut down high-speed rail in Wisconsin. He was ultimately successful, and Wisconsin lost the opportunity to be an innovator in the field of green technology, and place Wisconsin at the epicenter of a Midwest jobs corridor. The loss sent thousands of family-sustaining jobs and millions of dollars in federal assistance to other states. ["High speed rail funds scatter to other states," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/9/2010]
In addition to having shut down the high-speed link between Milwaukee and Madison, the state is now facing at least $209.1 million in costs, which would have been covered by Wisconsin's original high-speed rail allocation. ["Without aid, Hiawatha is in a pinch," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/15/2011]
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