State of Change

What does a new, better-prepared Trump Administration mean for the water we drink, the air we breathe, the safety of our food, our climate? We know a long list of federal environmental protections and programs will be rolled back or dismantled during the next presidential administration. We’re talking about erasing new standards for toxic PFAS chemicals in our drinking water, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, diminishing wetland protections, pulling funding to replace lead pipes, undermining the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon, axing programs that help people weatherize their homes, getting rid of support for manufacturing of batteries and solar panels, and of course, lots more drilling and fracking. If you think it feels overwhelming, you’re not wrong. There are also plans to target the unbiased science and research that happens at our federal agencies, replacing civil servants with political appointees.    So now that I’ve got you thoroughly angry, sad, scared, name the emotion, we’re going to dig into some of these issues and look at the road ahead to fight back. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Clean Wisconsin Attorneys Evan Feinauer and Brett Korte

For the past 25 years, we've been putting neurotoxins on our food. Neonicotinoids are potent chemicals that attack the central nervous systems of insects. Not only are they widely used on our food and in our soil, they're showing up in our drinking water in Wisconsin. And that leads to a big question -- what do they do to us? In this episode, Amy uncovers the truth about neonicotinoids with experts from Clean Wisconsin and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Sara Walling, Water & Agriculture Program Director, Clean Wisconsin Carla Romano, Groundwater Specialist, Department od Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Background Reading: Understanding the Impact of Neonicotinoid Insecticides Agricultural Chemicals in Wisconsin Groundwater Report, Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection Neonitcotinoids and their impacts

What's it going to take to get Wisconsin to 100% clean energy? If you listen to the state's biggest power companies, it's more methane gas. Wisconsin is on the verge of an expensive gas construction boom if utilities like We Energies in Alliant Energy have their way. But what about wind and solar? Is it possible for Wisconsin to finally trade in fossil fuels for clean energy right now? Amy talks with energy expert Dr. Ciaran Gallagher. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Dr. Ciaran Gallagher, Energy Manager, Clean Wisconsin Background Reading: Under the Lens, the Truth About Natural Gas Stopping Gas Expansion in Wisconsn Power Wisconsin Forward: An affordable, reliable, fossil-free future    

New research reveals how much it would cost to remove toxic PFAS 'forever' chemicals from the environment at the same rate we're currently producing and using them. Spoiler alert: we don't have enough money in the world. Hear from the researcher behind the study who says it should inspire optimism not hopelessness in the face of our growing PFAS problem.   Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Ali Ling, PhD Background Reading: The Future of Persistent 'Forever" Chemicals Under the Lens: What we know about PFAS in Wisconsin's drinking water Toxic PFAS pollution devastates two Wisconsin Communities (video)

  What keeps you safe -- when you drink water, take medicine, get on an airplane, or take out a loan? It’s often a government agency charged with implementing our health, safety and consumer protection laws. But recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court have cast a long shadow. Legal experts say the rulings point to a Court that is actively working to unravel longstanding protections and policies, not just for the environment but across the board, and the harm will be far reaching.  Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Evan Feinauer, Clean Wisconsin attorney Background Reading:  Rulings from U.S. Supreme Court a disaster for the environment Clean Wisconsin takes legal action to protect communities from toxic mercury pollution New EPA power plant rules will save lives in Wisconsin Clean Wisconsin Legal Work  

How do you get people to start paying attention to the urgency of climate change? Just like the name says, Science Moms is a growing non-partisan group of scientists and mothers who are spreading the word about our climate and joining forces to demand change from our leaders. Amy talks with UW Madison professor Dr. Tracey Holloway, who is a member of Science Moms. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Tracey Holloway, Professor of Environmental Studies & Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Science Mom Background Reading:  Science Moms website Wisconsin Agriculture's Critical Role in Addressing Climate Change New Energy Study Shows Net-Zero Emissions Possible for Wisconsin by 2050 Federal Funds for Wisconsin: Take advantage of sweeping federal investments in clean energy and efficiency  

What if there was a grain that didn’t have to be replanted every year? One with deep roots that stay in the soil, trap carbon, prevent erosion, filter water. Kernza – the world’s first perennial grain crop – could be a game changer when it comes to sustainable food production and using our land to help fight climate change. But the big question: does is make a good beer? In this episode, Amy heads to Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee to find out. Kernza® is the trademark name for the grain of an intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) being developed at The Land Institute in Kansas. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Russ Klisch, Owner & Co-Founder of Lakefront Brewery Background Reading:  Climate-Smart Crops: Kernza Kerna Crunch: The Race to Develop the First Perennial Grain Crop (podcast) Impacts of Conventional Agriculture in Wisconsin The Land Institute: Kernza Grain

No Mow May is here, but does it really make a difference in the battle to save our bees and butterflies? Amy walks through a typical Wisconsin yard with pollinator expert Elizabeth Braatz. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Elizabeth Braatz, Bumble Bee Brigade Coordinator and Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Background Reading:  Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade Saving Wisconsin's Native Pollinators Corn Ethanol vs. Solar: A Land Use Comparison 

When you think about the future of energy, do you picture you gas-fired power plants? In this episode, Amy looks at why power companies are racing to build new gas plants and what it means for the future of energy bills, our health and our climate. We Energies, the largest power company in Wisconsin, recently announced plans to transition two major power plants from coal to natural gas, build two more new gas-fired facilities, and build another new facility to hold liquefied gas. If you think it sounds like a major shift toward more fossil fuel development, you're right. We Energies’ parent company WEC Energy Group filed an application with the Public Service Commission to get special accounting treatment on the high-dollar projects before they’ve established a need for all that gas. Are gas-fired power plants the bridge to clean energy that power companies claim? Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director, Clean Wisconsin Katie Nekola, Attorney, Clean Wisconsin Background reading: Under the Lens: The Truth About Natural Gas We Enegies Doubles Down on Gas

Wisconsin's Public Service Commission approved a large methane gas plant four years ago. The site: a bluff overlooking the Nemadji River near the Minnesota border in Superior. At ​the ​time, ​Superior's ​city ​council ​unanimously ​supported ​the ​project. ​But ​it ​didn't ​take ​long ​for ​opinions ​to ​change.  In this episode, Amy talks with ​Superior City ​Councilor ​Jenny ​Van ​Sickle who ​at ​first ​supported ​the ​plant ​and ​is ​now ​helping ​lead ​the ​charge ​to ​stop ​it. ​Find ​out ​what ​has ​changed -- and what YOU can do to help fight the plant. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Jenny Van Sickle, Bumble Bee Brigade Coordinator and Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Background Reading:  Take Action Now: Call on federal officials to denty funding for the Nemadji Trail Energy Center Fighting the Nemadji Trail Energy Center gas plant Indigenous tribes urge federal officials to deny loan for Superior gas plant  

1939. It's the year researchers at the University of Wisconsin developed a hearty red corn that could tolerate Wisconsin winters and feed the state’s dairy cows. Before long, farms all over the state were sending trainloads of their ruby red corn to feed livestock across the country. But it didn’t last. The 1970s ushered in genetically modified corn with enormous yields and out went Wisconsin’s home grown red variety. Until now... In this episode, Amy heads to the home of J. Henry & Sons Bourbon in Dane County where Wisconsin’s old red feed corn is getting a  brand new life – as the key ingredient in world class bourbon.  A farm-to-glass experience that starts in the snowy fields of the Dairy State. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Joe Henry, J. Henry & Sons

It's no exaggeration to say PFAS 'forever chemicals' are everywhere. Some states have found PFAS tainting milk supplies and contaminating crops. What are the consequences of population-wide exposure to these toxic chemicals? Amy talks with Clean Wisconsin Science Program Director Dr. Paul Mathewson about the latest research. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest : Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director, Clean Wisconsin Background reading: Learn more about the latest PFAS health research in Clean Wisconsin's recent comments to the Natural Resources Board on the impact of proposed groundwater standards Find out more about PFAS contamination in Wisconsin Read the latest PFAS Fish Consumption Advisories for Wisconsin View an interactive map of PFAS contamination sites in Wisconsin Like ‘State of Change?’ Subscribe! Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us. You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate

How do you know if the air you breathe is safe? It often depends on where you live--not just what town or city, but what neighborhood, what street. In this episode, Amy talks with Langston Verdin, founder of MKE Fresh Air Collective, a community-led air quality monitoring project in Milwaukee. Hear what he’s been finding out about the air we breathe and what it could mean for our health.  One of the most dangerous kinds of pollution in terms of health outcomes is in the air. Fine particulate matter airpPollution is made up of tiny airborne particles that are 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. They can settle deep in the lungs, even make their way into the bloodstream, and are associated with asthma attacks and higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and premature death. According to an analysis from Clean Wisconsin – Wisconsin has the 3rd racial disparity in the country when it comes to exposure to these tiny particles. The particles come from burning fossil fuels, usually at coal and gas power plants, industrial facilities, or on busy roads with lots of cars, buses and heavy trucks. With all of those sources around, how do we know when the air is safe and when it’s not?  It’s vital information that Langston Verdin, founder of MKE Fresh Air Collective, wants everybody to have. The collective has been working to install neighborhood air monitors across the city. Amy meets Langston at the site of his very first air monitor, at his old duplex in Washington Heights. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest : Langston Verdin, Founder, MKE Fresh Air Collective, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Background reading: Learn more about the MKE Fresh Air Collective Study shows Wisconsin has one of the largest racial disparities in the nation for exposure to dangerous air pollution particles New Analysis: Proposed EPA power plant rules would save Wisconsin millions in healthcare-related costs Like ‘State of Change?’ Subscribe to State of Change on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us. You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate  

Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee nest discovered in Milwaukee County Before the 1990s, they were everywhere in Wisconsin and beyond. Native Rusty Patched Bumblebees nested and foraged across 28 states and parts of Canada. Then the population hit a sudden, rapid decline. By 2017, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee had become so scarce it was the first bee listed as a federally endangered species. In this episode, a walk deep into the Wisconsin woods for the rarest of discoveries: a nest of Rusty Patched Bumblebee queens. Amy looks at what it's going to take to bring our bees back and meet the dedicated experts and volunteers who are working hard to save our pollinators. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Elizabeth Braatz, Bumble Bee Brigade Coordinator and Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Jay Watson, Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Halley Minser, Restoration Ecologist, Milwaukee County Parks Background Reading:  Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade Saving Wisconsin's Native Pollinators Corn Ethanol vs. Solar: A Land Use Comparison  Milwaukee County Parks: Conservation

It feels like momentum is growing behind rooftop solar in Wisconsin. Federal tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, Focus on Energy rebates, and falling prices could finally push us out of the bottom half of states when it comes to home solar. Except some utilities in Wisconsin appear to be pushing back.   In this episode, a look plans from MG&E and Alliant Energy that could slow adoption of rooftop solar in Wisconsin. FInd out what you can do to protect solar in your community. Net metering. It doesn’t sound that exciting, but it’s actually one of the biggest incentives for families and small businesses to go solar. When your rooftop panels produce more energy than you can use, that energy goes into the grid, and your utility credits you for it. Now, MG&E and Alliant Energy are taking aim at that net metering incentive. Both are seeking approval from the Public Service Commission to drastically change the way they treat customers who install solar panels. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Chelsea Chandler, Clean Wisconsin Climate, Energy & Air Program Director Ciaran Gallagher, Clean Wisconsin Energy & Air Manager Background Reading:  Take Action: Tell the PSC to Protect Rooftop Solar Wisconsin's Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 Three big things: Transitioning to Clean Energy in Wisconsin  

Beach closures, fish kills, green lakes. They are unfortunate signs of summer in Wisconsin. A big reason: untreated animal waste. Large dairies can produce as much waste as a small city. It's not only hard to deal with, it's dangerous if it gets into our water. Animal manure is one of the biggest sources of water pollution in Wisconsin. Now, some of Wisconsin's largest dairies are suing the state, trying to limit oversight of the way they handle animal waste. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce quietly filed the lawsuit just before Memorial Day weekend on behalf of the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, a lobbying group representing a number of large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). In this episode, Amy talks with Clean Wisconsin water and agriculture program director Sara Walling and attorney Evan Feinauer to find out what the lawsuit means for Wisconsin’s water resources and public health. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guests: Sara Walling, Clean Wisconsin Water & Agriculture Program Director Evan Feinauer, Clean Wisconsin Attorney Background Reading:  Dangerous lawsuit puts water protections at risk Clean Wisconsin wins pair of landmark state Supreme Court cases

It’s no secret, Wisconsin has been rapidly losing its small family farms, and with them, a way of life that’s defined much of our state for more than a century. But there is a lifeline coming. About 30 miles outside of Lake Geneva, Amy meets Jay Wendt to take a long walk on a farm that’s been in his wife’s family for decades. These days, the family is joining farmers across Wisconsin who are choosing to lease some of their land for solar. Host:  Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Jay Wendt, farmer, Dean Kincaid, Inc. Background Reading:  Analysis reveals solar farms produce 100 times more energy per acre than corn ethanol Wind and solar emerge as cheapest options for powering Wisconsin Wisconsin’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050

Don’t believe everything you read on Facebook. Everybody knows that, but somehow misinformation still spreads like wildfire on social media, especially when it comes to climate change and clean energy like wind and solar. A sea of misinformation is getting in the way of badly-needed clean energy projects. Where are the false claims coming from, and why do people believe them? In this episode, what you can do to battle back – and recognize when disinformation is working on you. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Dr. Sedona Chinn, assistant professor of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Background Reading:  Politicization and Polarization in Climate Change News Content, 1985-2017 Wind and solar emerge as cheapest options for powering Wisconsin Wisconsin's Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050

Some rural communities in Wisconsin are pushing back against wind & solar, but it doesn't have to be that way. Find out how you can help stop a clean energy backlash. To reach our climate goals, Wisconsin needs to build one major wind project and three to four large solar farms every year for the next few decades. But a wave of pushback could be coming. Some Wisconsin communities are working to pass ordinances making it harder to build those clean energy projects. It’s something happening across our region. In this episode we talk with Dr. Sarah Mills from the University of Michigan who’s been working in rural communities as they respond to the clean energy projects that are cropping up in their backyards. Host: Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Dr. Sarah Mills, University of Michigan senior project manager and lecturer Background Reading:  Wisconsin's Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 Analysis reveals solar farms produce 100 times more energy than ethanol Modeling shows Koshkonong solar farm will improve the health for nearby waterways

On a hilltop in southern Wisconsin, a small brewery, long famous for its beer, is making headlines for a very different reason. Since last fall, New Glarus Brewing has been capturing more than 330 pounds of carbon dioxide (a bi-product of beer making) every hour of operation and reusing it. Join co-founder and master brewer Dan Carey for a tour. Host:  Amy Barrilleaux Guest: Dan Carey, co-founder and master brewer, New Glarus Brewing Background Reading:  New Glarus Brewing: Our Story Supporting Climate-Smart Agriculture Wisconsin's Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050