Updates On Governor Evers’ Task Force on Climate Change

In 2019, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued an executive order creating a task force designed to help communities “reduce and adapt to the effects of climate change.” Chaired by Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, the task force’s goal is 100% carbon-free energy by 2050 and is set to deliver its final recommendations to Governor Evers by October 31st, 2020.

After accepting public comment online and through listening sessions, the task force has begun to hash out final recommendations in sub-committees with a remaining general meeting scheduled for October 1st. Concern has already begun to spread, however, about the reach of these recommendations—with the MacIver Institute reporting that the task force’s recommendations will come with a generous, trillions-dollar price tag.

Nor will rejected ideas go away. On August 26th, Lt. Gov. Barnes stated: “Just because things don’t make it into the Task Force recommendation list doesn’t mean that they aren’t valid and may not have an area to be explored somewhere else.” He then suggested administrative agencies could better pass the more radical ideas than the legislature: an obviously concerning proposition for those who value the rule of law.

For more on the implications about the task force’s suggestions, read this piece by MacIver.