Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. We are dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives.

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Our research and public education work are made possible by tax-deductible contributions from generous citizens and foundations.

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Our Latest Report

Gobbling Less Gas for Thanksgiving: How Clean Cars Will Cut Oil Use and Save Americans Money

America’s dependence on oil threatens our environment, our economy, and our national security. Whether it is the scars left by the oil spills in the Yellowstone and Kalamazoo rivers and the Gulf of Mexico, the $1 billion that American families and businesses send overseas every day for oil, or the nearly 2 billion metric tons of global warming pollution emitted annually which fuels more and more extreme weather, these problems demand that we break our dependence on oil.

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Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Wisconsin's Biggest Mercury Polluters

Power plants continue to release large amounts of toxic pollutants, including mercury, into our air. In 2010, two-thirds of all airborne mercury pollution in the United States came from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants. In other words, power plants generate more airborne mercury pollution than all other industrial sources combined.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxicant. Mercury exposure during critical periods of brain development can contribute to irreversible deficits in verbal skills, damage to attention and motor control, and reduced IQ.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

New Data Shows Wisconsin Power Plants Emit 19th Most Mercury Pollution Nationally

Madison, WI– Wisconsin's power plants emit more mercury pollution than power plants in over 30 other states, according to brand new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data outlined in Wisconsin Environment latest report, Wisconsin's Biggest Mercury Polluters. The report found that in total, power plants in Wisconsin emitted 1329 pounds of mercury pollution in 2010. Wisconsin Environment’s report comes as EPA is set to finalize a standard to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants next month.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

Solar jobs census ranks Wisconsin fifth in nation

Madison, Wisconsin – Wisconsin Environment today released a new report from the Solar Foundation, a nonprofit solar education and research organization. The report found that Wisconsin as the 5th most solar related jobs in the country with an estimated 6,000 people employed by the solar industry.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

New Report: 3 Cities in Wisconsin Rank in the Top Ten Smoggiest Small Metropolitan Areas in the Country

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Today Wisconsin Environment released a new report showing that 3 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin – Kenosha, Sheboygan and Racine – are among the top ten smoggiest small metropolitan areas in the country. Smog is a harmful air pollutant that leads to asthma attacks and exacerbates respiratory illnesses, especially among children and the elderly. The new report, Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011, also found that there were 11 days in 2010 in Wisconsin when at least part of the state experienced smog levels exceeding the national health standard. Also, this summer, residents in the Milwaukee area were alerted to unhealthy air on 4 days.

Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Danger In the Air

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Today Wisconsin Environment released a new report showing that 3 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin – Kenosha, Sheboygan and Racine – are among the top ten smoggiest small metropolitan areas in the country. Smog is a harmful air pollutant that leads to asthma attacks and exacerbates respiratory illnesses, especially among children and the elderly. The new report, Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011, also found that there were 11 days in 2010 in Wisconsin when at least part of the state experienced smog levels exceeding the national health standard.

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News Release | Wisconsin Environment

New Data Shows Wisconsin Power Plants Emit 19th Most Mercury Pollution Nationally

Madison, WI– Wisconsin's power plants emit more mercury pollution than power plants in over 30 other states, according to brand new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data outlined in Wisconsin Environment latest report, Wisconsin's Biggest Mercury Polluters. The report found that in total, power plants in Wisconsin emitted 1329 pounds of mercury pollution in 2010. Wisconsin Environment’s report comes as EPA is set to finalize a standard to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants next month.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

Solar jobs census ranks Wisconsin fifth in nation

Madison, Wisconsin – Wisconsin Environment today released a new report from the Solar Foundation, a nonprofit solar education and research organization. The report found that Wisconsin as the 5th most solar related jobs in the country with an estimated 6,000 people employed by the solar industry.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

New Report: 3 Cities in Wisconsin Rank in the Top Ten Smoggiest Small Metropolitan Areas in the Country

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Today Wisconsin Environment released a new report showing that 3 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin – Kenosha, Sheboygan and Racine – are among the top ten smoggiest small metropolitan areas in the country. Smog is a harmful air pollutant that leads to asthma attacks and exacerbates respiratory illnesses, especially among children and the elderly. The new report, Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011, also found that there were 11 days in 2010 in Wisconsin when at least part of the state experienced smog levels exceeding the national health standard. Also, this summer, residents in the Milwaukee area were alerted to unhealthy air on 4 days.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

A Healthy Environment is Key to a Healthy Economy

Washington, DC – President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress yesterday on the subject of job creation. While focused mostly on a job-creating agenda, the President reiterated his support for environmental and health protections including “rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury” and challenged the country to be in a “race to the top” when it comes to pollution standards. The President also questioned the need for subsidies to Big Oil and announced infrastructure and school investments that could lead to cleaner transportation options and energy efficiency improvements.

News Release | Wisconsin Environment

Wisconsin's Beach Closings Increase, Wisconsin Environment Calls for Better Protections

MILWAUKEE – As Wisconsinites flock to the beach, pollution from stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continue to plague Wisconsin’s beaches. Wisconsin Environment reported that beach closings and advisories due to pollution went up last year in Wisconsin totaling 735 days of closed beaches, according to Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) 21st annual beachwater quality report released today.

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Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Wisconsin's Biggest Mercury Polluters

Power plants continue to release large amounts of toxic pollutants, including mercury, into our air. In 2010, two-thirds of all airborne mercury pollution in the United States came from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants. In other words, power plants generate more airborne mercury pollution than all other industrial sources combined.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxicant. Mercury exposure during critical periods of brain development can contribute to irreversible deficits in verbal skills, damage to attention and motor control, and reduced IQ.

Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Danger In the Air

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Today Wisconsin Environment released a new report showing that 3 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin – Kenosha, Sheboygan and Racine – are among the top ten smoggiest small metropolitan areas in the country. Smog is a harmful air pollutant that leads to asthma attacks and exacerbates respiratory illnesses, especially among children and the elderly. The new report, Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011, also found that there were 11 days in 2010 in Wisconsin when at least part of the state experienced smog levels exceeding the national health standard.

Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

Polluted urban and suburban runoff is a major threat to water quality at the nation’s coastal beaches. Runoff from storms and irrigation carries pollution from parking lots, yards, and streets directly to waterways. In some parts of the country, stormwater routinely causes overflows from sewage systems.

Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Wisconsin's Lakes at Risk: The Growing Threat of Pollution from Agriculture and Development

Executive Summary

Runoff pollution from farms and urban areas threatens water quality in waterbodies across Wisconsin. Bacteria at beaches, toxic algae in lakes, and sediment in streams can make the water unsafe for drinking, swimming and boating, and limit aquatic plant and animal life.

Report | Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center

Global Warming and Extreme Weather: The Science, the Forecast, and the Impacts on America

Patterns of extreme weather are changing in the United States, and climate science predicts that further changes are in store. Extreme weather events lead to billions of dollars in economic damage and loss of life each year. Scientists project that global warming could affect the frequency, timing, location and severity of many types of extreme weather events in the decades to come.

Featured Staff

Scott Thompson

Clean Energy Associate

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Research & Policy Results

At 54.5, a big step forward for clean cars.

On July 29th, President Obama announced the outline of new clean car standards covering cars and light trucks through 2025, which will amount to the single biggest step this country has ever taken to end our addiction to oil and tackle global warming.

A big step for clean water.

After thousands of members of Wisconsin Environment Research and Policy Center and our sister organizations urged the EPA to act, Administrator Jackson announced a plan to restore Clean Water Act protections. We’ve since delivered more than 100,000 public comments in support of clean water protections. We need your help to make sure the public’s voice is heard above the din of corporate lobbyists and special interests.

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Building a greener future

Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center gratefully accepts bequests, beneficiary designations of IRAs and life insurance, and gifts of securities to support our work. Your gift will assure that we can continue to protect America’s air, water and open spaces for future generations.

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Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center works closely with Wisconsin Environment, a 501 (c)(4) organization. Click here to visit the Wisconsin Environment website.