Assembly Republicans on Earth Day back plans for electric vehicle charging stations

MADISON - Assembly Republicans rolled out Earth Day-themed bills Monday that would put charging stations for electric vehicles along I-94 and have the state cover half the cost of shifting homes to renewable energy sources.    

Republicans in that house also announced they supported putting $500,000 toward training workers to install solar and wind energy infrastructure, promoting initiatives to recycle electronics and extending the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship land-preservation program. They did not say how much they were willing to put behind the stewardship program. 

The proposals might be an area where Republicans who control the Legislature can find common ground with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who also wants to put $10 million toward charging stations. 

Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback criticized Republicans for loosening environmental standards and making cuts to the stewardship fund in recent years but said Evers "looks forward to having Republican support" for measures like his plan to invest in charging stations. 

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said Republicans who control that house haven't yet discussed the Assembly proposals.

GOP Rep. Adam Neylon of Pewaukee announced at the Capitol his caucus backed five initiatives to help the environment.

Under one, Republicans indicated their interest in helping support the electric car industry, which experts see as playing a key role in driving down carbon emissions in the decades to come. 

The state would establish charging stations every 65 miles or so along I-94 and possibly other interstate highways using money from a national settlement with Volkswagen over fraudulent practices with emissions control equipment. Neylon said he'd like to use $10 million for the charging stations but said Assembly Republicans were willing to negotiate on how much to put toward the plan. 

The cost of installing the stations would be split evenly by the state and private companies. The companies would own and maintain the stations and make money off them. The state would levy a fee for using the charging stations that would be used to help pay off borrowing for roads, Neylon said. 

Wisconsin is due $25 million under the Volkswagen settlement. In his budget, Evers called for using $15 million of it to replace buses and other public transit vehicles and $10 million for charging stations.

The plan to lend a hand with charging stations is a departure for Republicans, who have not emphasized climate-related measures since taking control of the Assembly and Senate in 2011.

Under another Assembly GOP plan, residents could have the state cover half the cost of higher prices they would pay to have utilities provide them all or part of their energy from renewable sources. For instance, if using renewable energy cost someone $50 more per month, the state would cover $25 of it. 

The state would use money from the Focus on Energy program for the initiative. Neylon said he expected it to cost $7 million to $8 million a year. The program is funded by money collected on electricity and natural gas bills.

Support for stewardship program

In another proposal, Assembly Republicans said they were backing the stewardship program, but not by how much. That decision would be made as part of budget deliberations that are to continue into this summer, Neylon said.

Neylon said Assembly Republicans were committed to continuing the program for two more years, at which point they would consider whether to extend it again. Others have called for continuing the program for another decade. 

Evers is recommending that the Knowles-Nelson stewardship program, which has been used to purchase land for public use, be extended until fiscal year 2021-22. It’s set to expire in 2020.

The governor said he would name members of a task force to make recommendations about the future of the program, which has protected more than 675,000 acres since 1990.

Republicans have questioned the affordability of the program, especially during budget deliberations in 2015, when figures showed the land program was costing $1.6 million a week in debt payments.

Backing for renewable energy

Assembly Republicans also want to use $500,000 from an existing grant program to train and educate workers on wind and solar energy systems. 

In January, the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast that renewable sources of electricity would be the fastest-growing segment of electric generation over at least the next two years because of falling prices.

Neylon said Assembly Republicans are also backing programs to recycle electronics but had not determined how much to devote to the programs. The funds could be used to expand the programs or tell the public about them so they're used more widely.  

Electronic products are one of the fastest-growing segments of the state’s waste stream. A 2009 law bans electronics such as TVs, computers and cell phones from the state’s landfills.

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.