Milwaukee County residents - do you know that Milwaukee County is developing a bold plan to achieve carbon neutral operations, or zero net emissions, by 2050? Join the Office of Sustainability and consultants Energetics for this one-hour online meeting to learn how:

"We want the Climate Action 2050 Plan to reflect county residents’ diverse needs and concerns," said Sustainability Director Gordie Bennett. "Please attend this webinar to help us plan for a more sustainable and resilient Milwaukee County."

Webinar Details:
Date: September 28, 2023
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Please direct any questions about the webinar to linda@water365.us.

Climate change could increasingly impact Milwaukee County residents and county operations by the end of the century, a new report commissioned by the County. The ‘climate vulnerability’ report identifies three primary climate hazards in Milwaukee County: heat waves, flooding, and poor air quality. Under a global high-emissions scenario, average temperatures in the County could match those of St. Louis, Missouri by the year 2100, with wetter winters and drier summers.

As described in the report, climate change will have direct impacts on Milwaukee County residents and businesses. For example, heat waves could increase demand for air conditioning, leading to power outages and increased heat-related health concerns for residents. Unfortunately, these negative impacts could be compounded by the fact that vulnerable communities do not have the same access to adequate healthcare, transportation, or cooling centers.

Consultants Energetics found that some communities in Milwaukee County may be less resilient to climate change. For instance, neighborhoods with high concentrations of impermeable surfaces (buildings, paved roads, and parking lots), and a deficit of tree canopy and open space are more susceptible to heat waves and poor air quality. In general, local communities with less resilient infrastructure also tend to have higher social vulnerability.

The report identifies several park properties located in Milwaukee County that could potentially be affected by 100-year and 500-year floodplains (Hart Park, Kletszch Park, Lincoln Park, and Brown Deer Village Park). Flooding of these or other park properties could make them less accessible and enjoyable for area residents and visitors. This could result in decreased physical activity and social isolation, which can have negative impacts on health and well-being.

Findings from the report will inform Milwaukee County’s Climate Action 2050 Plan. The plan will serve as a roadmap for Milwaukee County to:

The Climate Action 2050 Plan is being guided by Milwaukee County's Sustainability Task Force, whose meetings are open to the public. To learn about upcoming or previous Sustainability Task Force meetings, visit https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

In July 2023, Milwaukee County’s Office of Sustainability (OS) was accepted into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Peer-Learning Cohort. This six-month program will train the 15 participating local governments how to plan and deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Working with Wisconsin Clean Cities, OS staff will explore strategies for installing publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure on county properties.

“Conventional vehicles emit significantly more emissions per mile traveled than electric vehicles,” said Grant Helle, Energy Program Manager. “Deploying publicly accessible charging infrastructure helps encourage wider adoption of EVs and supports community decarbonization goals.”

The C2C Peer-Learning Cohort will wrap-up in December 2023.

Milwaukee County’s new Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center, to be located at 1230 W Cherry St in Milwaukee, has been recognized as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The center is designed to achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 88, which indicates it will perform among the top 12 percent of similar buildings nationwide.

According to a recent report, roughly two-thirds of Milwaukee County’s carbon emissions are attributable to county building operations. Science suggests that carbon emissions accelerate global climate change, which can disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. Thus, designing buildings to achieve ENERGY STAR supports the County’s vision and carbon neutrality policy.

Over the past several years, Congress has authorized a slate of funding for homeowners and renters to save energy. Starting in 2024, Focus on Energy will administer Wisconsin’s Home Energy Rebate program. Until then, Milwaukee County households looking for energy efficiency incentives can explore other federal programs, including tax credits or energy assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savings Hub provides tips for saving money on home energy upgrades, clean vehicles, and more. It’s easier than ever to take control of your energy costs, make your home safer and more comfortable, and help save the planet!