Posted 3:26 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2011
Guy Wolf, an adviser in UW-La Crosse’s Office of Multicultural Student Services, led the legal battle with representation from Midwest Environmental Advocates in the1990s to get more teeth behind pollution control enforcement at the French Island incinerator, which turns waste into energy. His efforts are now featured in a new film.
[caption id="attachment_2460" align="alignleft" width="350" caption="Guy Wolf, adviser in UW-L's office of Multicultural Student Services"]
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For more than a decade Guy Wolf fought for clean air in the La Crosse area. Now his efforts will be featured in a film about environmental advocacy.
Wolf, an adviser in UW-La Crosse’s Office of Multicultural Student Services, led the legal battle with representation from Midwest Environmental Advocates in the 1990s to get more teeth behind pollution control enforcement at the French Island incinerator, which turns waste into energy.
Wolf contended the incinerator was in violation of the Clean Air Act and became the litigant in a lawsuit against Xcel Energy. A settlement in 2001 required Xcel Energy and La Crosse County to invest millions into the plant for pollution control equipment and pay fines.
Wolf’s story is told in a new film, “Crossing the Line: Defending Wisconsin’s Environmental Commons,” which premiered April 19 in Madison and shows in Milwaukee on May 12. The film features five stories of individuals and grassroots groups who stood up for their rights to clean air, land and water and won with the help of Midwest Environmental Advocates.
“We hope this film will help ordinary people understand how important their role is in protecting the environment,” said Kimberlee Wright, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates.
Wright said pollution isn’t an accident. It’s a “planned and regulated event.” Pollution-related laws are technical and specific, and, as the state deals with shrinking government, the public’s role as a watchdog on enforcement of those laws is more important than ever, she said. Wolf spent that decade researching laws, working with the Department of Natural Resources to examine how much pollution was coming out of the French Island stack, and pushing for more enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
“One thing about Wisconsin is it has some of the toughest environmental laws in the United States, but some of the weakest enforcement of those laws,” Wolf said.
Wolf was motivated to improve enforcement of the act because “detoxifying your environment is one of the most important things you can do,” he said. Smoke stacks aren’t the only way toxic chemicals enter the environment. Wolf often visits university classes to talk about everyday products and their toxicity. He’ll carry a box into the room stuffed with household products from lemon-fresh air freshener to garden bug spray. He asks students to read the long, complicated labels describing precautions such as removing all pets from the premise before spraying.
“No company is going to put that on the back of its product unless it’s forced to by law,” says Wolf.
He advocates not using products that are toxic to the environment, therefore being proactive rather than reactive.
“It’s not just about winning the lawsuit, but trying to change people’s behaviors,” Wolf said. “I can blame Xcel, but I also have to share responsibility because, if I use all these products, then I’ve contributed to it.”
Learn more about the film, “Crossing the Line: Defending Wisconsin’s Environmental Commons."
[/caption]
For more than a decade Guy Wolf fought for clean air in the La Crosse area. Now his efforts will be featured in a film about environmental advocacy.
Wolf, an adviser in UW-La Crosse’s Office of Multicultural Student Services, led the legal battle with representation from Midwest Environmental Advocates in the 1990s to get more teeth behind pollution control enforcement at the French Island incinerator, which turns waste into energy.
Wolf contended the incinerator was in violation of the Clean Air Act and became the litigant in a lawsuit against Xcel Energy. A settlement in 2001 required Xcel Energy and La Crosse County to invest millions into the plant for pollution control equipment and pay fines.
Wolf’s story is told in a new film, “Crossing the Line: Defending Wisconsin’s Environmental Commons,” which premiered April 19 in Madison and shows in Milwaukee on May 12. The film features five stories of individuals and grassroots groups who stood up for their rights to clean air, land and water and won with the help of Midwest Environmental Advocates.
“We hope this film will help ordinary people understand how important their role is in protecting the environment,” said Kimberlee Wright, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates.
Wright said pollution isn’t an accident. It’s a “planned and regulated event.” Pollution-related laws are technical and specific, and, as the state deals with shrinking government, the public’s role as a watchdog on enforcement of those laws is more important than ever, she said. Wolf spent that decade researching laws, working with the Department of Natural Resources to examine how much pollution was coming out of the French Island stack, and pushing for more enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
“One thing about Wisconsin is it has some of the toughest environmental laws in the United States, but some of the weakest enforcement of those laws,” Wolf said.
Wolf was motivated to improve enforcement of the act because “detoxifying your environment is one of the most important things you can do,” he said. Smoke stacks aren’t the only way toxic chemicals enter the environment. Wolf often visits university classes to talk about everyday products and their toxicity. He’ll carry a box into the room stuffed with household products from lemon-fresh air freshener to garden bug spray. He asks students to read the long, complicated labels describing precautions such as removing all pets from the premise before spraying.
“No company is going to put that on the back of its product unless it’s forced to by law,” says Wolf.
He advocates not using products that are toxic to the environment, therefore being proactive rather than reactive.
“It’s not just about winning the lawsuit, but trying to change people’s behaviors,” Wolf said. “I can blame Xcel, but I also have to share responsibility because, if I use all these products, then I’ve contributed to it.”
Learn more about the film, “Crossing the Line: Defending Wisconsin’s Environmental Commons."