Environment : Multi-issue

WGF work on issues and evaluation of projects that have a variety of environmental and social ramifications.

Op-Ed: Wisconsin’s Long History of Local Control and Wake Boat Regulations

sun and clouds over a northern Wisconsin lake

Sunset over a Northern Wisconsin Lake, photo by Ashley Gries

Wisconsin’s Long History of Local Control and Wake Boat Regulations

by Dan Butkus, President- Wisconsin Lakes (dbutkus@wisconsinlakes.org)
and Meleesa Johnson, Executive Director, Wisconsin’s Green Fire (mjohnson@wigreenfire.org)

Note: This op-ed was prepared by WGF Executive Director, Meleesa Johnson, and Wisconsin Lakes President, Dan Butkus in early …

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Join Us for Green Fire Cafe

Announcing our virtual event series: Green Fire Cafe!

These days, we all need opportunities to unwind and connect. We need people around us to talk through our challenges and cheer on our achievements. But how can we do that when life is so busy, and it’s hard to keep up with all the news and …

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Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline Updates – March 2025

pipeline infrastructure among grass and trees under cloudy skies

Enbridge Line 5 Updates: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Denies Water Quality Certification for Enbridge Line 5 Oil Pipeline Re-route
Will Trump Administration Energy Emergency Executive Order Affect Line 5?

Prepared by Nancy Larson, WGF Water Resources Specialist

Inter-Related Regulatory Decisions

Existing pipeline on east end of the Bad River Reservation, 2022, photo …

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Highlights from Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Budget

Looking across Monona Bay to the Wisconsin State Capitol in winter With a red ice fishing tent on the right. Taken from Shore Road, Madison, WI. Photo by Chris Rycroft via Flickr

Highlights from Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Budget

Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s Executive Director, Meleesa Johnson, attended Governor Tony Evers’ State Budget address on February 18, 2025. In the address, Gov. Evers kicked off the “Year of The Kid” with his 2025-2027 State Budget. He highlighted several critical announcements to ensure all Wisconsinites have access to safe, clean drinking …

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Federal Funding Pause: Implications for WGF

A snow covered road facing the sun with trees on either side

A message from Meleesa Johnson, WGF Executive Director

Responding to the Trump Administration’s Pause on Federal Funding, January 28, 2025

The flurry of Trump Administration executive orders, actions, and memoranda has set forth a snowstorm of speculation, concern, uncertainty and, for some, fear. The White House memo issued today (M-25-13) announcing a …

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3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat

A group photo of college students and conservation professionals in a snowy forest

Students and professionals at our the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat, 2025

3rd Annual Wisconsin Conservation Retreat

For the third year, we collaborated with the UW-Oshkosh Student Environmental Action Coalition (UWO-SEAC) to host the Wisconsin Conservation Retreat for students and professionals. We gathered at Lowenwood (the former Conserve School) in Land O’Lakes for networking, skill-building, …

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Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar

Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar cover image with QR code for registration

Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar, January 15, 2025. View on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25VMh__kH8. Take the feedback survey at https://s.zoom.us/m/bPFdfXu57

Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar (Recorded Jan. 15, 2025)

On, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 12:00-1:00pm CT, we held our Wisconsin Forests at Risk Webinar.  During the webinar, we focused on …

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Update on Vista Sands Solar and Greater Prairie-Chickens

Map of Vista Sands Solar development solar arrays

by Meleesa Johnson, WGF Executive Director

Working for Renewable Energy AND Wildlife Conservation
In August 2024, at the administrative law hearing for the Vista Sands Solar Project development, I testified on behalf of Wisconsin’s Green Fire (WGF). In that testimony, we asked for certain solar arrays to be excluded from the final project map. …

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