How will the IRA affect Wisconsin and can Ron Johnson close again?

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
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Here's how the Inflation Reduction Act could impact Wisconsin's environment

Last week, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which will kick off a suite of actions on health care, taxes and climate change. Here are three ways Wisconsinites might benefit:

  • More Wisconsin farmers who want to start sustainable practices on their land but need funding to do so could get that opportunity with a nearly $20 billion boost to existing U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs. The programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, provide farmers financial and technical assistance to reduce nitrogen losses, carbon emissions, soil erosion and other harmful environmental impacts through strategies such as cover cropping and managed grazing.

  • Blooms of toxic blue-green algae and dramatic swings in lake levels already make climate change a major threat to Wisconsin’s coastal communities. In less than a decade, Lake Michigan water levels swung an unprecedented six feet from a record low to a near-record high, threatening homes and infrastructure along the shoreline. “We need to be taking a much more proactive approach to coastal resilience in the Great Lakes,” said Joel Brammeier, president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The new law will bring in more funding through existing programs designated to restore and rebuild coastlines, such as using nature-based solutions, which mimic the natural features of the shoreline and stabilize the coast.

  • Energy efficient appliances will now be more affordable, helping Wisconsin families reduce their monthly bills and make repairs around their homes. “There's going to be a lot of incentives for people to invest in energy efficient appliances, home upgrades, energy efficient, home remodels,” said U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, who is not seeking re-election this year after 25 years in office. “We just need to incentivize people to purchase them and reduce their energy consumption.” There will be rebates available covering 50 to 100 percent of the cost of installing new electric appliances, such as heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves and ovens. Rebates will also be available for households that are making improvements to increase their energy efficiency. Wisconsinites who install solar panels and battery storage systems will also be eligible for tax credits that cover 30 percent of the installation costs.

As in August 2016, Ron Johnson trails his re-election opponent. Here's why the latest Marquette Poll suggests a bigger challenge this time

  • Ron Johnson has been a closer in his first two campaigns, overturning deficits that polls found in August. But this time might be a tougher climb.

  • One difference is that Johnson is considerably more unpopular now than he was six years ago. His “negative rating” — the share of voters who view him unfavorably — is the highest it has ever been (47%) since Marquette began polling on Johnson almost a decade ago.

  • Another difference is that he was on the upswing by August 2016. That hasn’t happened this time around. There has been no significant election-year improvement in Johnson’s numbers, no recovery into positive territory. His mix of “favorables” and “unfavorables” was 36/42 last October (a minus 6 rating), 33/45 this February (minus 12), 36/46 this April (minus 10), 37/46 this June (minus 9) and 38/47 (minus 9) in the new August poll. Johnson has had a net negative rating now for more than a year, easily his longest stretch “under water” in Marquette’s polling.

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The Money

CONCERT VENUE: A convention center official is criticizing plans by the Milwaukee Bucks and FPC Live to open a concert venue next to Fiserv Forum.

OSHKOSH DEFENSE: Oshkosh Defense sent a big contract to the non-union South. Will it keep future jobs in Wisconsin?

The Games

BREWERS: Important win for the Brewers. You don't want to get swept at Wrigley. Keston Hiura went deep twice. The Brewers remain 5 games behind the Cards as St. Louis won for the 7th straight time.

PACKERS: Tackle David Bakhtiari is activated from the PUP list, but there's no indication he'll be ready for the opener.

Today's Weather

A very nice start to the week with sunny skies and a high of 79. Tuesday and Wednesday look good, too.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How will the IRA affect Wisconsin and can Ron Johnson close again?