New documentary follows Wisconsin youth who are suing the state over climate change
A new documentary film brings viewers into the lives of 15 young Wisconsinites who are suing the state over climate change. They share what they love about the places they call home, what they hope to protect, and why they believe they deserve a chance to defend their health and future in court.
Legal victory! Judge orders release of information about energy use at Meta’s Beaver Dam data center
This week, a Dane County Circuit Court sided with MEA in a dispute over the public’s right to know how the unprecedented energy needs of hyperscale data centers will impact Wisconsin. The court ruled that the Public Service Commission acted unlawfully when it denied a public records request seeking information about energy use at Meta’s Beaver Dam data center and ordered that the information be released.
MEA and partners file new legal action over stream crossing approvals for Line 5 reroute
This week, the Bad River Band, Midwest Environmental Advocates and other partner organizations filed a new lawsuit in our ongoing fight to prevent the construction of the Line 5 reroute. We filed the lawsuit after the DNR unlawfully issued permit approvals allowing Enbridge to do work at four stream crossings in Ashland County.
DNR reversed course on a massive data center after pushback from developers. MEA is fighting for answers.
A new lawsuit filed by MEA on behalf of the Sierra Club shows the extent to which tech companies and data center developers may be influencing decisions that impact Wisconsin’s environment.
Port Washington Data Center Developers Seek to Shift Financial Risks to Residents
When the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved new protections for Wisconsin ratepayers in April, it sent a clear message that ordinary Wisconsinites should not be responsible for the financial risks created by data center deals negotiated behind closed doors by utility companies and the world’s biggest tech companies. Now, some of those companies are asking regulators to backtrack.
Upcoming Webinar: The Public Trust Doctrine in Action
The public trust doctrine is a powerful tool for protecting Wisconsin’s waters for the benefit of current and future generations. In this webinar, we will explore how the public trust doctrine, which has its roots in ancient Roman law, continues to shape some of the most important environmental fights in Wisconsin today.
Wisconsin Youth Plaintiffs Appeal Dismissal of Constitutional Climate Case
Yesterday, fifteen youth plaintiffs represented by Midwest Environmental Advocates and Our Children’s Trust filed their appeal in a constitutional climate case challenging Wisconsin laws that promote fossil fuels, exacerbate the climate crisis, and violate the constitutional rights of Wisconsin youth.
Circuit Court Issues Order Limiting Pipeline Construction While Line 5 Lawsuit Moves Forward
A Wisconsin circuit court ordered Enbridge Energy to halt pipeline construction at certain locations while it reviews a lawsuit challenging state regulatory approvals for the Canadian energy giant’s controversial plan to build a new 41-mile segment of its Line 5 oil pipeline around the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin.
Energy Regulators Take Steps to Ensure Data Centers Pay Their Own Way
On April 24, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved We Energies’ proposed rate structure for data centers, but only after making important changes to protect existing ratepayers.
MEA Calls for Full Environmental Review of Port Washington Data Center
At Wisconsin DNR hearing today, residents, advocates, and public health experts raised serious concerns about the air pollution impacts of a new data center campus in Port Washington. MEA is actively engaged in that process to ensure the DNR fully evaluates the environmental impacts before issuing air quality permits for the massive facility.