Climate Action 3-Part Workshop – Feb. 25, March 31 & April 28, 2020

Learn what others are doing today, locally and nationally. Get practical advice about energy efficiency, adding renewable energy sources, and available incentives. Focus on actions you can take at your home, at your business and in our community today to help reduce our impact on our environment.

Building on two climate change meetings held last year in Cross Plains, this 3-step workshop will unfold over three months on three evenings.

This series is being put on for interested residents and businesses in Cross Plains, Black Earth, Mazomanie, Mt. Horeb and neighboring townships.

• Tuesday, April 28 (7:00-8:30pm): Adding Renewables – Learn from your neighbors who have done it and from experts on adding renewable energy to your power supply. Learn about available financial and tax incentives, steps involved and more.
  • This third and final Climate Action Workshop topic will be “Adding Renewables,” featuring Legacy Solar Cooperative. Individuals who have installed solar energy systems will share their experiences; present the process, costs, savings and value of solar energy; and provide an update on our conversation with local utilities, supporting use of more renewable energy to their grid systems.
  • View the full recording here.
• Tuesday, March 31: Getting More Energy Efficient — Practical steps and incentives for any business, farm and/or home to reduce energy costs. Examples of what steps your neighbors have done. Learn about Focus on Energy financial incentives. This meeting took place as a webinar from 7:00-9:00pm.
  • View the full recording here.
  • The meeting featured Chris Seitz, of Wisconsin Focus on Energy, who discussed cost effective actions to reduce energy use in the home, business or farm, along with available financial incentives.
  • Some other resources given: Scavenger hunt for kids | Basics of a home walk through (video) | Detailed overview for a home energy assessment | Walk-through Energy Audit Form
• Tuesday, Feb. 25: Actions Being Taken Now – Highlight what is happening today in Dane County and elsewhere to mitigate climate change. View documentary: “From Paris to Pittsburgh” Share reactions, suggestions. This meeting took place at Wisconsin Heights Middle/High School (10173 Hwy 14, Mazomanie) from 6:30-9:00pm.
  • There was a viewing of portions of the film “From Paris to Pittsburgh,” an excellent documentary about the effect of climate change across the country, and how some communities and states are stepping up to the challenges.
  • We also heard from Keith Reopelle, director of the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate, present highlights of the county’s far reaching and detailed Climate Action Plan. It was scheduled for full release in March, but was delayed to the COVID-19 threat. See more on the Climate Action Plan and a video of a presentation by Reopelle at Sustain Dane’s Sustainable Breakfast on 1/22/20.

The Climate Action Workshops are supported by the Townships of Vermont, Cross Plains and Middleton, the Village of Cross Plains Sustainability Committee, Gateway to the Driftless, Black Earth Creek Watershed Association, Legacy Solar Cooperative, Dane County Office of Energy & Climate and others.

This series is inspired by the heavy flooding of the Black Earth Creek watershed communities in August 2018 and the record heavy rains in 2019, and expected additional extreme weather events. The workshops are focused on steps residents and businesses can take become more energy efficient, reducing both financial and environmental costs. Contact Warren Gaskill for more information on this series.