MONROE COUNTY – The Monroe County Climate Change Task Force (CCTF) is making strides to enhance the county’s resilience to climate change. In the past six months, they have engaged with other counties to learn about their Climate Action Plans.
In August, the team visited Dane County, where they met Kathy Kuntz, Director of the Office of Energy and Climate Change. Later, in December, Dillon Constant, La Crosse County Planner, shared insights about developing a Climate Action Plan for his county.
Insights from Dane County
Dane County took action back in 2017 when its Executive established the office in response to a lack of state and federal leadership on climate issues. Kuntz highlighted how essential community pressure was in prompting action.
Despite being a politically diverse state, concerns about climate change run high in Dane County, with 73% of its residents acknowledging the issue. This is notable compared to Monroe County, where about 55% express similar concerns.
Dane County has set four major climate goals:
- Ensure all county electricity comes from renewable sources.
- Achieve carbon neutrality across all operations.
- Cut emissions county-wide by 50% by 2030.
- Reach carbon neutrality county-wide by 2050.
Their diverse operations encompass everything from the airport to public parks, posing unique challenges and opportunities for sustainability.
Achieving Internal Goals
To meet its first internal goal, Dane County focused on renewable energy sources, adopting solar power and converting landfill gas to renewable natural gas. As solar energy capacity grew, the county shifted away from landfill gas, which became less efficient.
This change enabled them to provide cleaner energy to the grid. Over 60% of county emissions dropped as a result, shedding light on innovative waste-to-energy solutions. Kuntz emphasized the importance of continuous conversation with county departments to identify emission-reduction opportunities, celebrating their achievements to foster a positive feedback loop.
County-wide Strategies
While the county can enforce its internal policies, it can’t mandate actions in municipalities. This situation encourages strategic collaboration. Kuntz explained that Dane County aims to lead by example, showing local governments practical ways to meet environmental goals.
One successful initiative was a solar project with Alliant Energy, sparking interest from the Village of McFarland to pursue similar renewable goals for their schools.
Dane County’s Climate Champion Program has recognized over 150 local governments and businesses for their sustainability efforts, further inspiring communal action. Programs like these create community-wide climate champions, making sustainable practices contagious.
In just a few years, from 2017 to 2022, Dane County saw its population grow by 7%, yet total emissions have declined by 3%. This reflects a promising trend toward a more sustainable future.
Recent national surveys show that communities engaging in local climate action can significantly influence broader populations. According to the Yale Climate Opinion Maps, public awareness is crucial in driving policy changes, emphasizing the importance of local initiatives connected to national trends.
Dane County’s experiences underline the power of collaboration in addressing climate change and set an example for Monroe County and beyond.
