Eco-Minute

After nearly a decade of advocacy from communities and environmental groups like Clean Wisconsin, the state has finally adopted regulatory standards for toxic PFAS in groundwater. The safeguards are critical to protect tens of thousands of rural Wisconsinites who rely on private wells for their drinking water. While Wisconsin enacted PFAS protections for municipal drinking water and lakes and rivers more than four years ago, those safeguards did not apply to the 30 percent of Wisconsinites who use private wells.

Another environmental win, this time in Superior. Utilities there say plans for a giant gas plant on the banks of the Nemadji River have been scrapped amid growing community pushback. Critics of the $700 million project say it was not needed and would have released nearly 3 million tons of greenhouse gases and 200 tons of other dangerous pollutants every year.

Right now on The Defender Podcast, should you really be afraid of your gas stove?

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Toxic PFAS ‘forever’ chemicals have been found in Wisconsin wild rice. Researchers say the levels are extremely low and are not a health concern. But the findings underscore how pervasive the chemicals are—they are used in all kinds of products from food packaging and nonstick cookware to carpets, shoes and feminine products. Groups like Clean Wisconsin are calling for a ban on non-essential uses of PFAS in our state.

Good news for our Great Lakes—the number of harmful sea lampreys in our lakes has declined with the biggest drop in Lake Superior. Researchers say while there are still too many of the invasive, parasitic fish, the decline shows efforts to suppress sea lamprey populations are working.

Right now on The Defender Podcast, Wisconsin’s AI data centers are making history… but not in a good way.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Public Service Commission has approved two more large gas-burning powerplants to meet surging energy demand from AI data centers. But the approval came with an unusual cry for help. The Commission— which is supposed to regulate our utilities—says it needs better laws or its hands are tied when it comes to evaluating the need for huge new fossil fuel projects. Wisconsin has no laws that require an integrated statewide energy plan.

Next week state officials will decide whether Wisconsin gets its first ever groundwater standards for toxic PFAS chemicals. Advocates and communities across the state have been pushing for almost a decade to get standards adopted by the Natural Resources Board. About two thirds of Wisconsinites get their drinking water from groundwater.

Right now on The Defender Podcast, the DNR says permit violations are piling up at Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline. A look at what’s happening in our Northwoods.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Canadian oil giant Enbridge has reportedly breached the aquifer in northern Wisconsin during its construction of the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline. The company says the incident happened when they installed part of the pipeline under the Marengo River. Freshwater flowing from the site is being, quote, “monitored and contained.” Back when Enbridge applied for construction permits from the DNR for the new section of Line 5, the company insisted the risk of an aquifer breach was essentially zero.

Shout out to Clean Wisconsin’s Sara Walling on her appointment by Governor Evers to the Great Lakes Commission. The commission develops and promotes land and water use and conservation within the Great Lakes Basin. Walling is one of 3 commissioners representing the state of Wisconsin.

Right now on the Defender Podcast, why Wisconsin farmers and environmental advocates are putting a lot of hope—into a tiny nut.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

October is National Firewood Month (yes, it’s a real thing), so the Department of Natural Resources is encouraging people to only buy firewood where they plan to burn it. The Buy Local, Burn Local campaign is aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species that can lurk in firewood like the spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and other pests and diseases that can hurt our trees. Time is running out for Congress to renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The federal program provides key funding to protect and restore our Great Lakes, but the Senate is set to adjourn without reauthorizing the legislation. The Great Lakes are the largest system of fresh surface water on Earth. For a deep dive into Wisconsin’s most pressing environmental issues, check out my Defender podcast. Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Wind energy is getting support in rural Wisconsin. 46% of people surveyed in Marathon

County over the summer say they do support their community hosting wind energy

projects, mainly for the revenue they provide. Just 22% opposed and 29% were on the

fence. The top places they want wind revenue go: K-12 funding, and money towards roads

and intersections.

Clean Wisconsin is suing the EPA over the agency’s move to eliminate its own rule that

limits greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The safeguards were set to deliver a

net $370 billion in climate and health benefits nationwide. Wisconsin has the ninth-highest

death rate from particulate matter pollution that comes from burning fossil fuels.

Right now on the Defender podcast – why we need to start paying attention to cancer rates

in Iowa.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Trump Administration is set to dismantle two major environmental protections. The EPA is planning to drastically limit the definition of wetlands, yanking federal pollution protections for most wetlands in the United States. The Agency is also eliminating its own rule that limits greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. And it’s unveiling a separate rule that could prevent future administrations from limiting those emissions as well.

The Department of Natural Resources is calling on Canadian oil giant Enbridge to immediately stop construction of a bypass around a broken section of its Line 5 pipeline in Iron County. The company broke the line on August 25th, spilling 1.3 million gallons of liquid natural gas and other chemicals. It is the largest reported oil and gas pipeline spill in state history. The DNR says is doing the bypass work without the required permits and approvals needed to protect our environment.

For a deep dive into Wisconsin’s most pressing environmental issues, check out The Defender Podcast.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Cleanup in northern Wisconsin after what appears to be the biggest reported oil and gas pipeline spill in state history. Canadian oil giant Enbridge spilled more than a million gallons of hazardous natural gas liquids in Iron County, forcing evacuations in the area. It’s unclear whether other toxic chemicals like benzene and hydrogen sulfide were also released or what the impacts may be to Lake Superior or other nearby waterways.

The Department of Natural Resources warning boaters to watch out for shallow waters. That’s because much of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with nearly 28% of Wisconsin in a severe drought. Low water levels could expose unmarked obstructions like stumps, rocks and sand bars. More than 20 counties across northern Wisconsin are facing extreme or severe drought conditions.

Right now on the Defender podcast, a deep dive into what’s going on at the site of that Line 5 pipeline spill in the Northwoods.

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Cloverleaf, the developer behind Port Washington’s controversial AI data center, is reportedly looking to build a new hyperscale data center on the east side of Madison. Energy utility MG&E recently filed a new data center tariff proposal with the Public Service Commission. The City passed a moratorium on AI data centers amid concerns about water use and high energy demands. But that moratorium expires in January.

A pair of piping plovers has been seen nesting on Wisconsin Point in Superior for the first time in 49 years. The migratory birds are endangered in the Great Lakes region, but there has been a big effort to bring them back. The pair nested on an isolated stretch of sand and cobble that was built as part of a collaborative habitat recovery project for the species. About $4.5 million dollars in funding for the project came from the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

For a deep dive into Wisconsin’s most pressing environmental issues, check out The Defender podcast.  

Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Oracle is dropping its lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin. The tech giant filed suit in June after the Public Service Commission passed new financial rules for AI data centers in the We Energies Service territory. The new protections—which We Energies claims will “narrow the pool of investors” for AI data center projects in their area—could be used as a blueprint in other parts of the state.

A move toward regulating “nurdle pollution” in the Great Lakes. The tiny plastic pellets are used to manufacture all kinds of products -. And they’ve been found in all five great lakes. Nurdles contain a cocktail of petrochemicals that could hurt wildlife and people. Now Illinois is the first Midwest state to regulate nurdles as pollution.

Right now on The Defender podcast – what does a farmer know about wind energy. We’ll find out.

.Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.