Emerging EPA greenhouse gas regulations, if they survive, will raise utility rates in Wisconsin and may result in the closure of some older coal-fired plants in the state, three panelists agreed during a recent luncheon in Madison. They disagreed on other possible effects of the rules.
A trio of panelists spoke March 10 at a “Future of Midwest Energy” luncheon organized by WisBusiness.com and WisPolitics.com.
Read below for more from the luncheon.
COVERAGEWisBusiness: Emerging EPA climate change rules could hit coal-dependent Midwest hard WisBusiness: Audio recording of the event Supporting documents from Edison Electric Institute: Statement from Rep. Mark Honadel, who was scheduled to be on the panel but could not attend due to legislative obligations. PARTICIPANTSDan Chartier, director at the Edison Electric Institute 
Chartier is director of environmental markets and air quality programs at the Edison Electric Institute. Chartier also currently serves an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School where he teaches a graduate level course on environmental finance. Prior to joining EEI in early 2008, Mr. Chartier worked in the Clean Air Markets Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has also worked at the Environmental Markets Association, PG&E’s National Energy Group and Wisconsin Electric Power Company. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Rep. Mark Honadel, chair of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee 
Honadel, a South Milwaukee Republican, serves as chair of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee and is also a member of the committees on transportation and labor and workforce development. Honadel was first elected to the Assembly in a July 2003 special election and has been re-elected since 2004. He’s a graduate of Oak Creek High School and attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and Marquette University. George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation 
Meyer works for the board to oversee and direct all aspects of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. He served as Wisconsin’s DNR secretary from 1993 to 2001 and worked for the Department of Natural Resources for a total of three decades. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Keith Reopelle, senior policy director, Clean Wisconsin 
Reopelle’s statewide environmental advocacy experience dates back to the 1980s when he worked for Clean Wisconsin when it was known as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade. He held positions ranging from field canvasser to executive director, but spent most of his time as program director. Reopelle has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and a master’s degree in environmental communications from University of Wisconsin-Madison. |
EVENT SUPPORTERS
– Alliant Energy |
