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For Copeland and her fiancée, that night cost $11,500 in immediate damage to their basement and foundation. Insurance covered most of it, but only after an argument about what was actually covered.

The financial responsibility for protecting Wisconsin’s fragile frontier should not trickle down to the homeowners, small business owners, and working families of Milwaukee, Waukesha, or Wauwatosa. Instead, that responsibility must fall on the out-of-state, multinational corporate entities whose operations drive these massive environmental challenges.

The financial responsibility for protecting Wisconsin’s fragile frontier should not trickle down to the homeowners, small business owners, and working families of Milwaukee, Waukesha, or Wauwatosa. Instead, that responsibility must fall on the out-of-state, multinational corporate entities whose operations drive these massive environmental challenges.

Whether utilities absorb massive energy demands or local taxpayers shoulder the staggeringly high costs of transitioning away from fossil fuel dependence, the model remains the same: We are all forced to subsidize private profits.

As Canadian wildfire smoke drifts south, clouding our horizons and coating our lungs, it is becoming clear that this smoke is doing much more than just stinging our eyes.

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice In her seminal work, "Budget Justice: On Building Grassroots Politics and Solidarities," author Celina Su argues a point that is often overlooked in the dry world of municipal finance: budgets are not just spreadsheets; they are moral documents. They reflect a society’s true priorities, revealing who we value and who we are willing to leave behind. At Wisconsin for Environmental Justice (WEJ), we believe there is a

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice In the theater of modern American life, we are trained to watch the stage. We focus on the clash between red and blue, the shouting matches between the left and the right, and the relentless churn of the 24-hour news cycle. We are told that the greatest threat to progress is "the other side." But the reality is far more subtle and far more entrenched. The most powerful political force in our country today isn’t a p

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice The transition from winter to spring in Wisconsin is usually celebrated with the first sightings of robins and the budding of tulips. However, for Wisconsin drivers, the season brings a much harsher reality: the opening of "pothole season." While the adage promises flowers, the reality of our changing climate is delivering a crumbling infrastructure that hits residents directly in the pocketbook. The Magnitude of t

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice For decades, the global energy narrative has been framed as a battle between "reliable" traditional fuels and "subsidized" alternatives. We are told that fossil fuels represent the rugged efficiency of the free market. However, a closer look at the mechanics of our current energy system reveals a starkly different reality. The truth is that our fossil fuel infrastructure has become a hybrid of capitalism's worst as

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice In the quiet machinery of the global economy, commodities were once viewed as the simple grease between the gear predictable, flowing, and largely invisible. But the wind has shifted. Today, the world’s essential resources—from the lithium powering our grids to the natural gas heating our homes—have been transformed from neutral inputs into a high-stakes arsenal. We are entering an era where resources are no longer

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice For decades, the global economy has been tethered to a boom-and-bust cycle dictated by the oil industry. We have been told that fossil fuels are the only "realistic" way to power our lives, maintain our infrastructure, and grow our wealth. But as we look at the mounting costs—both on our balance sheets and in our backyards—it is becoming increasingly clear that sticking with the old guard is a "fossil fool’s" erran

By Dean Muller President of Wisconsin for Environmental Justice Wisconsin isn’t just another state observing Earth Day; we are its birthplace. On April 22, 1970, inspired by the leadership of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, 20 million Americans took to the streets to demand a healthier environment. It was a bipartisan awakening that gave birth to the EPA and the Clean Air Act. Today, 56 years after that first historic day, we find ourselves at a crossroads. While we have ma

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice Imagine it is a sweltering summer night in Wisconsin. Naturally, you would open a window to let the hot air escape and allow your home to cool down. For centuries, Earth operated the same way, maintaining a delicate balance where the heat generated could escape back into space. But today, that window is stuck shut. Because of the massive volume of greenhouse gases we generate, we have effectively sealed the house.

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice This Earth Day, as we gather at the University Center in River Falls, we aren’t just celebrating the beauty of the Kinnickinnic River or our local green spaces—we are facing a $16.7 billion reality. A landmark study has revealed that Wisconsin communities face a staggering $16.7 billion bill through 2040 to address climate-driven remediation and infrastructure protection. From reinforcing bridges against extreme f

By Dean Muller President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice As the conflict in the Middle East continues, the "invisible toll" of war has reached the American kitchen table. We are no longer just mourning the brave servicemen and women lost in the initial strikes; we are now paying for a conflict that our domestic energy policy was never built to survive. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for 20% of the world’s oil and gas—global markets have sent crude

The arrival of spring brings a sense of renewal to Wisconsin, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the seasonal pressures facing our local infrastructure. As the frost thaws and we look toward the months ahead, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice (WEJ) is focused on a deadline that cannot be pushed back. Just as the season demands immediate preparation for the year’s growth, our mission requires urgent action to protect our communities from the escalating costs of clima

It seems like a simple math problem: the United States produces more oil than any other nation on Earth, yet American drivers are currently facing a painful spike in fuel costs. With domestic production hitting roughly 13 million barrels a day—surpassing heavyweights like Russia and Saudi Arabia—the logic of energy independence suggests prices should be low. Instead, national averages have surged to $3.84 a gallon, while diesel has climbed past the $5 mark. The explanation fo

Photo from https://ceobs.org/operation-epic-fury-emerging-environmental-harm-and-risks-in-iran-and-the-region/ By Dean Muller, President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice While the headlines focus on the tactical maneuvers of "Operation Epic Fury," we cannot ignore the catastrophic public health and environmental toll being exacted in the Middle East—one that will eventually have global consequences. Since February 28, the targeting of critical infrastructure has transitio

In recent years, communities across the country have begun exploring legal strategies to address the growing costs of climate impacts. Flooding, infrastructure damage, and public health pressures are increasingly affecting local governments--and many are asking whether taxpayers should be responsible for those costs alone. The movement may seem slow, but we’ve seen a similar path before. It took years for opioid litigation to move through the courts, but those cases ultimatel

By Dean Muller, President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice Because Wisconsin has no naturally occurring coal, oil, or natural gas reserves, the state essentially exports its wealth to import 100% of its fossil fuel needs. As of early 2026 , Wisconsin spends approximately $14 billion to $15 billion annually on importing fossil fuels. 1. The Cost Breakdown This figure represents the "energy drain" -- money that leaves the Wisconsin economy to pay extraction companies and