Gov. McCallum Remarks
(prepared remarks may differ from actual speech)

Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) Energy Forum
Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 @ 9 a.m.
Olympia Resort and Conference Center, Oconomowoc

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM (Tom Still). I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND INTRODUCTION.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THIS DISTINGUISHED GROUP TODAY.

I'M PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO EMPHASIZE OUR SHARED VISION: PROVIDING A SAFE, RELIABLE, AND ENDURING ENERGY SUPPLY FOR WISCONSIN, WHILE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE IN WISCONSIN, A FACT I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. WE PIONEER NEW TECHNIQUES IN A MULTITUDE OF AREAS – FROM AGRICULTURE, TO COMMERCE, TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND WE'RE BLESSED WITH SOME OF THE MOST BREATHTAKING NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE WORLD.

WE MUST CONSERVE AND PROTECT THOSE RESOURCES, BUT WE MUST ALSO FIND WAYS TO MEET THE POWER NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS, FARMS, AND THE BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE GOOD-PAYING JOBS.

THAT'S WHY I PUT FORTH IN JUNE A COMPREHENSIVE, PROACTIVE ENERGY PLAN FOR THE STATE, ONE THAT IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE CONSENSUS BETWEEN UTILITIES, CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS.

SINCE I INTRODUCED THE PLAN, MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES, ASKING HOW WE PUT IT TOGETHER AND HOW THEY CAN START ASSEMBLING A SIMILAR STRATEGY. I BELIEVE THEY'VE RECOGNIZED WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

MY ENERGY POLICY WILL SUPPORT THE WISCONSIN FIRMS THAT CREATE JOBS BY SUPPLYING GOODS AND SERVICES TO ENERGY-RELATED INDUSTRIES WORLDWIDE.

IT WILL HELP WISCONSIN'S ENERGY-USING INDUSTRIES REMAIN COMPETITIVE, NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY.

IT WILL ATTRACT THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED INDUSTRIES AND JOBS THAT ECONOMISTS IDENTIFY AS KEY TO OUR FUTURE.

AND IT PLACES AN ADDED EMPHASIS ON CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

IN MY PLAN, I CALL FOR DOUBLING THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES BY 2010. I KNOW ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY WILL HELP THE STATE MEET THAT CHALLENGE.

I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT WE'RE ALREADY ON OUR WAY. KEY COMPONENTS OF MY ENERGY PLAN BECAME LAW WHEN I SIGNED THE STATE BUDGET FIVE WEEKS AGO.

WE WILL ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY THROUGH THE "FOCUS ON ENERGY" PROGRAM – THIS THREE-YEAR, $100 MILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM IS THE CORNERSTONE OF MY CONSERVATION EFFORTS;

WE WILL ENHANCE OUR ELECTRIC-GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODERNIZE EXISTING PLANTS, THROUGH LEASED GENERATION CONTRACTS AND A REDUCTION IN THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX;

WE WILL DEVELOP HIGH-TECH ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION THROUGH THE USE OF DISTRIBUTED GENERATION;

AND WE WILL DEDICATE $3 MILLION TO FUND THE 20 CENTS PER GALLON ETHANOL PRODUCER'S INCENTIVE.

I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT I DIRECTED THE HEADS OF WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO MEET WITH UTILITY OFFICIALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO REVIEW PLANS TO PROTECT WISCONSIN'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT MEETING TOOK PLACE WEDNESDAY.

THE STATE'S UTILITIES HAVE AN EXCELLENT RECORD IN RESPONDING TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND SECURITY RISKS, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERY LAST STEP IS BEING TAKEN TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR ENERGY SUPPLY. THAT IS WHAT WE WILL DO.

ALL THE INITIATIVES I'VE MENTIONED TODAY ARE BASED ON ONE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE: TO ENSURE SAFE AND RELIABLE ENERGY FOR WISCONSIN'S FUTURE, WE HAVE TO INVOLVE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

WE NEED THE INPUT AND EXPERTISE OF BUSINESS PEOPLE, RESEARCHERS, UTILITIES, FARMERS AND CONSUMERS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

OUR FUTURES ARE ALL CONNECTED, AND WE MUST MAINTAIN THE TYPE OF CREATIVE DIALOGUE THIS FORUM REPRESENTS.

IN MY TIME IN PUBLIC SERVICE, I'VE SEEN MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS DON'T WORK – THAT IN THE END, NOTHING EVER GETS DONE THAT WAY.

I KNOW THEY'RE WRONG. WE'VE PROVED THEM WRONG.

LAST SPRING, I WORKED WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF BUILDERS, HOMEOWNERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO CRAFT COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION PROTECTING THE STATE'S WETLANDS.

WE WORKED AGAINST THE CLOCK AND BROUGHT TOGETHER DIVERSE INTERESTS TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR WISCONSIN CITIZENS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, MY OFFICE HAS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED INQUIRIES FROM OTHER STATE GOVERNMENTS ASKING US HOW WE DID IT.

I THINK THEY'RE SURPRISED ? BUT I'M NOT. WISCONSIN'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAPACITY TO PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AT CRUCIAL TIMES.

I KNOW THIS DYNAMIC WILL CONTINUE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE A RELIABLE ENERGY SUPPLY AND A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR WISCONSIN.

I KNOW W.E.I. AND FORUMS LIKE THIS ONE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROCESS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE – ONCE AGAIN – GET THE JOB DONE FOR WISCONSIN CITIZENS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.