CREWE: Litany of errors mars WPRI task force analysis

CONTACT: Thad Nation, (414) 412-7814

Report on Global Warming Task Force recommendations takes piecemeal approach; analyzes incorrect policies

(MADISON, Wis.)—The coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) on Tuesday released a fact sheet detailing the errors with the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute’s (WPRI) November 12th report on the adverse economic effects of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming recommendations.

“The WPRI report is so wildly flawed that it has no place in any legislative debate on the task force recommendations,” said Thad Nation, executive director of CREWE. “Not only does the report analyze many policies that aren’t even included in the Clean Energy Jobs Act, but it takes a piecemeal approach, failing to analyze the cumulative effect the policies will have on our state.”

Among the errors included in the report, titled “The Economics of Climate Change Proposals in Wisconsin”:

* 8 of the 13 policies analyzed aren’t included in the Clean Energy Jobs Act

* Models policies that would impact the state’s general fund, despite the fact that the Clean Energy Jobs Act includes no tax increases

* Ignores the fact that low carbon fuels will be produced in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states, while conventional gasoline is largely imported from overseas

* Fails to take into account decreased electricity demand due to energy efficiency and conservation investments outlined in the recommendations

In addition, the authors of the report used a “black box” economic model to come to their conclusions – meaning the reader is only given the inputs and outputs, without any knowledge of how the statistical analysis was done. In order to allow others to properly analyze the report’s conclusions, the model that was used should be made publicly available for review.

“With so many obvious errors, this report is disingenuous at best,” Nation said. “The State Legislature should continue working to develop legislation that will alleviate the impacts of global warming and create new energy jobs, without getting bogged down in ideologically-driven attacks.”

A copy of the CREWE Fact Sheet on the WPRI study is attached to this release.

CREWE is a coalition that formed to advocate meaningful change in energy policy consistent with the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force final report, which will have a positive impact on Wisconsin’s economic development and security while fostering job creation.

CREWE’s membership consists of CleanPower, Alliant Energy, EcoEnergy, Johnson Controls, Xcel Energy, C5•6 Technologies, Axley Brynelson, Madison Gas and Electric, Orion Energy Systems, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin Energy Corp., Poblocki Sign Company, Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, MillerCoors, American Transmission Co., WPPI Energy, DTE Energy Services, and Kranz, Inc.

The coalition is dedicated to joining forces with other supporters to promote responsible policies that address climate change; create jobs; promote energy efficiency, reliability and independence; and mitigate the economic impacts of rising energy costs.

For more information on joining this campaign, please visit http://www.WICREWE.com and follow CREWE on Twitter (@WI_CREWE).