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Accomplishments of the WICEC 2001-Present
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In 2001-2002, WICEC held one statewide conference and six regional conferences on global warming and the myriad related environmental problems touching Wisconsin including air and water pollution, respiratory and other illnesses, the visual impact of industrial facilities, quality of life, and urban sprawl. The campaign's conferences have received ample media attention and attendance far surpassed expectations. Even in rural locations like Wausau and Stevens Point, regional conferences were attended by an average of 70 people. Cosponsors of these conferences have included the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Madison Gas and Electric, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Marquette University's Department of Theology, Edgewood College, and the interfaith climate campaigns of Iowa and Minnesota. Speakers have included religious and spiritual leaders, members of Congress, leading climate scientists, and a former secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources.

In February 2002, WICEC drafted a letter to President Bush that was signed by 48 religious leaders throughout Wisconsin including such major faith groups as the United Methodist Church, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Episcopal Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Milwaukee Zen Buddhists. This effort was part of the national campaign that succeeded in gathering more than 1,000 signatures from religious leaders demanding a reduction in US consumption of fossil fuels.

WICEC is well known and respected by environmental organizations in Madison and beyond. Understanding the critical role we play, environmental groups seek us out to join coalitions, participate in press conferences, reach out to our constituency, and voice our support for various causes. As a result, we have worked with the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG), Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS), Sierra Club, River Alliance of Wisconsin, RENEW Wisconsin, Clean Water Action Council, Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin, and others.

In 2003, WICEC, Wisconsin Green Building Allaince, Informing Ecological Design, Wisconsin Focus on Energy, and Rapid Improvement Associates joined together to produce the Wisconsin Energy Stewardship Pilot Collaborative, an educational project to give congregations practical tools to dramatically reduce energy consumption thereby lessening their utility costs. This demand-side reduction program is critical for eventually changing the supply/demand paradigm currently followed, thus reducing Wisconsin's overall contribution to green house gases and other emissions. WICEC is currently planning another Wisconsin Energy Stewardship program. If your faith community is interested in getting REAL, practical tools for reducing energy, including access to SenseDAT technology, Wisconsin Focus on Energy, and consultation with Wisconsin's cutting edge green architects, please contact info@wicec.org or contact Rev. Dave Steffenson, Education Coordinator, at dsteffe70@gmail.com or phone him at 920-623-4360.

To see the results of the pilot project [In PDF-312kb]

In March 2003, WICEC was awarded Madison's mayoral Climate Protection Award in the area of Overall Program Strength.

In 2004 WICEC received a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding leadership in the national Clean School Bus USA program. The certificate was awarded on the basis of our involvement in the School Bus Retrofit Project.

In November 23, 2004, WICEC recieved a Certificate for Environmental Leadership To confirm the purchase of an equivalent of 204 tons of carbon dioxide in verified emission reductions from Aliguda Village, Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh, India by Substituting Petroleum Diesel Fuel with Natural Pongamia Oil for Local Uses. View it here.

In 2005, WICEC received the Wisconsin Partners for Clean Air Recognition Award for organizing workshops and using other outreach tactics to inform congregations and the public of ways to reduce energy and fuel consumption, supporting a program in India that produces fuel from tree oil to run equipment in local villages, and supporting the diesel school bus retrofit program. See http://www.wicec.org/awards.htm

In 2007, WICEC in partnership with the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin had a successful campaign meeting our goal of obtaining 100 household pledges and helped to empower a saving of 84,600 kWh of energy, $7,868, and prevented 122,700 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions! We received the “2007 ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge Leader” recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

In 2008, WICEC in partnership with the Islamic Environmental Group of Wisconsin received the ENERGY STAR Change the World Pledge Leader for helping to empower an estimated saving of 286,040 kilowatt hours of energy, $41,400, and preventing 539,170 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions!

©2006 WICEC. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin Interfaith Climate & Energy Campaign
4032 Monona Drive
Madison, WI 53716
WICEC LOGORev. Dick Blomker, Chair
608-222-7339
info@wicec.org
http://www.wicec.org/