Environment

In the 1970s, I first heard the term “global warming.” Fifty years later, some are still debating if it is real. The science seems clear, but some folks still have a “hunch” that it’s not. Last winter (our warmest in recorded history), and the drought that impacted much of the Mississippi River barge traffic, is not a coincidence.

In the past six years, Renee and I have restored 25 acres of highly erodible bluff land into wild prairie pollinator habitat. Along with being a carbon sink, prairies hold the soil in place, since two thirds of the plant’s mass rests below ground level. Keeping that soil in place and out of the Mississippi River watershed improves water quality as well as fishing.

Last March we purchased our first hybrid vehicle. We installed a 24 panel roof mounted solar system last May. We are both involved with the bicycle “Flyway Trail”, which runs from Winona, crosses over the Mississippi River to the Town of Buffalo, and will eventually connect to the Great River State Trail starting in Onalaska. Our Driftless Area is a crown jewel for outdoor enthusiasts. To keep it that way, we need to send people to Madison committed to protecting it.

You have your vote and your voice. Vote for candidates with a track record of actions that address climate change, candidates who will support initiatives like promoting renewable energy and remediating PFAS’s and nitrites in our drinking water. Protecting our environment comes at a cost, but being proactive is less costly than cleaning things up after the fact. Future generations deserve no less!