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Coalition pushes green technology in stimulus

By SCOTT BAUER | Associated Press Writer

10:42 AM CST, January 13, 2009

MADISON, Wis. - A coalition including environmental groups and the mayors of Milwaukee and Madison are pushing $2 billion worth of projects they want to be paid for by the federal economic stimulus package.

The initiatives are environmentally friendly and would create about 30,000 jobs, the group said Tuesday.

The projects overlap with some green initiatives Gov. Jim Doyle has already presented to Congress and President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, said Melissa Scanlan, founder of Midwest Environmental Advocates.

But the coalition's list also includes recommendations from mayors, sanitation districts and others. It also is being sent to Obama's team and Wisconsin's congressional delegation, Scanlan said.

The $3.8 billion wish list Doyle presented to Congress in December was not limited to green initiatives.

The coalition's list emphasizes public transportation by increasing bus and rapid transit and creating one high-speed rail between Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison and another between Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee.

The group also is calling for fixing existing roads and bridges before spending money to build new ones, retrofitting older buildings to be more energy efficient and improving water systems to be more environmentally friendly.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who is a part of the coalition, said the list represents pragmatic and realistic proposals that can create better-paying jobs.

There is a unique opportunity to get the work done given Obama's election, the economic uncertainty and the need to update the country's infrastructure, said Steve Hiniker, executive director of 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, a land-use advocacy group.

Coalition members also include Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, three state representatives and a host of environmental groups, elected officials and special interest groups.

The entire list of projects is available at www.midwestadvocates.org.