On Tuesday, November 5th, the Millennial Action Project hosted our tenth Red & Blue Dialogue in Wisconsin. Wrapping up the series for 2019, this Dialogue took place at Biloba Brewing Company in Brookfield, WI and focused on energy, the grid, and the environment in the state. MAP Founder and President, Steven Olikara grew up in Brookfield, making this Dialogue a special homecoming for MAP.
The event kicked off with a panel featuring Representative Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) and Representative Robyn Vining (D-Brookfield/Wauwatosa), with the conversation driven and moderated by Olikara. The panel discussion highlighted how young elected officials and the Wisconsin Future Caucus are building new consensus on energy and climate-related issues. Rep. Neylon discussed the challenges he faces as a Republican who prioritizes environmental protection, but emphasized that he’s found success in and out of his caucus by stepping out of his comfort zone and built credibility by emerging as a bipartisan leader in this issue area.
One example of Rep. Neylon’s work is the Clean Energy Corridor Grants, which allocates funding received from the Volkswagen settlement (Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act 2009-2016) to be used to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations throughout Wisconsin. Rep. Neylon emphasized this initiative’s bipartisan nature: it appeals to Republicans for the significant job-creation opportunity and to Democrats by incentivizing clean energy practices.
Rep. Vining likewise sees the upside in framing job-creation as a foundation for environmental protection initiatives, as creating jobs is a strong area of common ground between Republicans and Democrats in Wisconsin and around the country. She also emphasized that shifting towards renewable energy sources is an opportunity for improved public health, by mitigating air and water quality issues. Rep. Vining set forth that “anytime you can create jobs and create better lifestyles at the same time, that’s exciting, that’s a really big opportunity.”
Following the panel, attendees dove into small group conversations, led by trained facilitators from the Zeidler Center. Importantly, this portion convened a large group of first-time Dialogue participants alongside a cohort of Dialogue veterans, providing a dynamic experience for all attendees. The facilitators walked attendees through their perspectives on this topic. They ensured that folks connected their views with specific personal experiences they’ve had throughout their lives. In doing so, the opportunity emerged for a diverse group of stakeholders to engage across party lines, and as a result, the participants shed the false narrative that their communities are politically polarized beyond repair. Despite the political diversity, community members were able to find common ground and a shared vision for Wisconsin’s energy future.