Below are highlights from an article by Steven Elbow that appeared in The Cap Times on Mar 15, 2019.
A recently formed dairy lobbying group is pushing for a bill that would allow polluters to buy water pollution credits on a state-run clearinghouse. The proposal, backed by the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, was introduced with bipartisan support Wednesday in the state Senate.
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The Dairy Alliance announced the proposal last week, saying that the group is working with Republican legislative leaders to pass the bill and to write into the state budget a provision that would establish a task force to study sources of groundwater contamination.
The proposal follows a provision in Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ budget that would add five positions to step up permitting, inspection and enforcement for the state’s large livestock operations and increase their fees.
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Laurie Fischer, the Dairy Alliance’s lobbyist, said the efforts were on behalf of the state’s large dairy farms, which she said have been “scapegoated” over the state’s water pollution issues. Fischer, who is also the CEO and founder of the American Dairy Coalition, made her statements to WisBusiness.com.
The bill being pushed by the Dairy Alliance would make it easier for utilities by posting pollution credits in a clearinghouse that could be bought directly, or arranged through a third party. The entity offering the credit would have to reduce discharges by 1.2 units for every 1 unit by which the credit purchaser exceeds its permitted amount, for a net reduction in pollution.
“Instead of singling some out and just putting more onerous regulations (on CAFOs) … this will help find avenues for everyone to participate,” she told the publication.
Read the article in its entirety at https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-dairy-group-pushing-for-clearinghouse-for-water-pollution-credits/article_5c80fdff-fabd-5609-8b4c-686ab8c8f29c.html
