Clean Wisconsin is a left-of-center organization that advocates and litigates in support of environmentalist policy in Wisconsin. It advocates regulations to reduce wastewater contamination and emissions and for the adoption of weather-dependent energy. 1
Clean Wisconsin has stated it incorporates the identity politics concept of intersectionality in its environmental advocacy by advocating for racial issues and engaging in hiring practices that seek to counter racial biases. It addresses race issues in its environmental advocacy by promoting the idea that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by environmental problems. 23
History
Originally named Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin was co-founded in 1970 by Doug La Follette and Peter Anderson to lobby for and pursue litigation in support of environmentalist policies. 1
Clean Wisconsin campaigned in support of the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act of 1972, and under the name Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade brought three cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court that sought to set environmental standards at state agencies. 4
In 1975, Clean Wisconsin won a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) that established that state agencies can be held liable for compliance with the Wisconsin Environmental Protection Agency (WEPA) if the agency is found to have harmed the environment. 4
Another Clean Wisconsin lawsuits led to a ruling that required the PSC to “consider” environmental impacts when reviewing power plant proposals. With support from Clean Wisconsin, the ruling led to the passing of Wisconsin’s Power Plant Siting Law in 1975, which established regulatory processes for considering environmental impacts by the PSC when reviewing power plant proposals. It included requirements for the PSC to determine the “public need” for the power plant, the environmental impact, and alternative energy sources before approving power plants. 5
In the 1980s, Clean Wisconsin campaigned in support of groundwater regulations, leading to the passing of the 1985 Groundwater Protection Act in Wisconsin. The bill regulated groundwater contamination, required agencies to “regulate activities that might impact groundwater,” and mandated the monitoring of activities potentially affecting groundwater. 6
Clean Wisconsin led campaigns in support of the 1998 Mining Moratorium Act. The law prohibited mining permits in Wisconsin unless a similar mine had both been in operation for over ten years before being closed for at least ten years, without allegedly causing pollution. Wisconsin has not approved any mining permits since passing the law. 7
In 2003, it changed its name from Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade to Clean Wisconsin. 1
Activities
In February 2026, Clean Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, alongside the Clean Air Task Force, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Conservation Law Foundation, Public Citizen, and Earthjustice, as well as several other organizations. The lawsuit alleged the Trump administration’s executive order eliminating all carbon emission regulations for vehicles violated the Clean Air Act. Katie Nekola, general counsel for Clean Wisconsin, stated, “The dangers of climate change are becoming ever more apparent as Wisconsin experiences record heat, toxic air from wildfire smoke, and extreme weather.” She also accused the administration of having engaged in “zealous pandering” to conventional energy companies due to the deregulation and argued it was amongst “the most destructive and irresponsible actions taken by the Trump EPA to date.” 8
In 2025, Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission approved the Badger Hollow Wind Project after Clean Wisconsin’s rural energy campaign engaged residents of Iowa and Grant counties to support wind energy. Clean Wisconsin also reported “intervening” in the proceedings to support the idea that wind energy is beneficial to the environment. It advocated for weather-dependent energy to align with its goal to have net-zero emissions by 2050 and argued that opponents of the project based their opposition on “misinformation.” 9
Leadership
Mark Redsten has worked as the president and CEO of Clean Wisconsin since 2014 after having served as its executive director from 1999 to 2014. 10 He also is board chair of Cool Choices and the Fund for Lake Michigan and is on the board of advisors for the University of Wisconsin Institute for Population Health. 11
Financials
In 2024, Clean Wisconsin reported $4 million in total revenues and $3.5 million in total expenses, including $2.4 million in salaries and compensation for its employees. 12
for general operating support – Clean Wisconsin works across key decision-making venues to combat climate change and ensure a healthy future for all Wisconsin communities.
For 50 years, Clean Wisconsin has been Wisconsin’s leading voice for clean air and water. Clean Wisconsin seeks to provide all residents with access to healthy air and clean drinking water; provide residents, businesses, and visitors an abundance of swimmable, fishable lakes, rivers, and streams; and promote an economy that is strong and powered by clean energy. With previous project support, the grantee has delivered public education campaigns to prevent harmful diversions of Great Lakes water, reduce pollution sources contaminating drinking water supplies, remove lead pipes, and advance clean water policies and funding. With this general purposes grant, Clean Wisconsin will pursue all of its objectives around climate change, clean energy, clean air and clean water. This will include efforts to strengthen clean water policies by educating the public, its members, the media and decision makers about programs to protect and restore the Great Lakes; continue to grow its presence with tribes in northern Wisconsin and urban areas of southeast Wisconsin thus elevating voices in underserved areas; develop leadership training for its staff and board; and conduct research to build strong communications programs around Great Lakes issues
For over 50 years, Clean Wisconsin has worked to protect and preserve Wisconsin’s clean water, clean air and natural heritage. With an active membership and advocacy base of more than 20,000, their staff of experts conducts sound science, engages in public policy, takes legal action and fosters strong partnerships with allies and stakeholders to help ensure a safe, healthy environment for all. The grantee's work has led to policy advances such as protections against PFAS contamination, reductions in agricultural runoff and cleanup of urban stormwater while growing partnerships and coalitions to address these issues. With renewed support, Clean Wisconsin will continue to advance its mission through policy advocacy, scientific research, regional collaboration and education, and community engagement to help ensure a more resilient and environmentally just future for the state, including communities in the Great Lakes region.
For 50 years, Clean Wisconsin has been Wisconsin’s leading voice for clean air and water. The grantee seeks to provide: 1) all residents with access to healthy air and clean drinking water; 2) provide residents, businesses and visitors an abundance of swimmable, fishable lakes, rivers and streams; and 3) promote an economy that is strong and powered by clean energy. With previous grant support, the grantee has delivered public education initiatives to prevent harmful diversions of Great Lakes water, reduce pollution sources contaminating drinking water supplies, remove lead pipes and advance clean water policies and funding. With this general purposes grant, Clean Wisconsin will pursue all of its objectives around climate change, clean energy, clean air and clean water. This will include efforts to: 1) strengthen clean water policies by educating the public, its members, the media and decision makers about programs to protect and restore the Great Lakes; 2) continue to grow its presence with tribes in northern Wisconsin and urban areas of southeast Wisconsin thus elevating voices in underserved areas; 3) develop leadership training for its staff and board; and 4) conduct research to build strong communications programs around Great Lakes issues.
