Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley signs off on carbon-zero emissions plan
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed off on a carbon-neutral action plan for the county, amid efforts to dismantle climate-driven initiatives from the Trump administration.
The plan aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the county's operations by 2050. It outlines specific and measurable ways to reduce emissions over the next 25 years, including energy-efficient equipment, upgrades to renewable energy generation and alternative transportation fuel.
"It's imperative that we protect and preserve these spaces and our environment as a whole generation who get the opportunity to enjoy these parks," Crowley told supervisors and constituents at Tippecanoe Park. "We are here to take action, but also to recommit ourselves to environmental sustainability as well as stewardship."
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed off legislation approving the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 (CA50) Plan on April 25, 2025, which aims at achieving net-zero carbon emissions in Milwaukee County operations by the year 2050.
According to Crowley, the county is already seeing progress, including a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, the baseline year for tracking the county's carbon reduction. The county is on track to achieve 50% reduction in carbon by 2030, a county report noted.
The plan is estimated to cost roughly $441 million, with energy efficiency and fleet upgrades as well as on-site solar energy installations. But efforts to make Milwaukee County carbon neutral are not new, as the county has previously retrofitted LED lighting, established sustainable design standards to reforestation, and roadway to trail conversions.
"These diverse strategies will help Milwaukee County to achieve our emissions reduction goals," said Grant Helle, director of the county's Office of Sustainability
Helle said the climate action plan outlines ways for the county to reduce emissions over the next 25 years, such as by using energy-efficient equipment, upgrades to renewable energy generation, and alternative fuel transportation. These efforts, in turn, will create green jobs and reduce urban heat islands across the Milwaukee area.
"I'm proud of the way this plan acknowledges our changing realities, more severe temperature fluctuations, more extreme weather events and a growing labor market for careers that address our changing climate together," County Board Supervisor Anne O'Connor said.
Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County Executive Crowley OKs carbon-zero emissions plan
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