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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Assembly Bill 467

Consideration of certain greenhouse gas emissions in determining requirements applicable to a stationary source of air pollution

Topics: Air pollution, Energy conservation, Natural Resources, Department of: Environmental protection

Became law

The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2012. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Jan 9, 2012

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Jan 26, 2012

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Feb 14, 2012

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 171

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2012: “Published 4-16-2012”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

The federal Clean Air Act allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to authorize a state to administer the act if the state's air pollution control program is at least as stringent as the act. Currently, EPA delegates the authority to administer the federal Clean Air Act in this state to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Current federal law and state law require construction permits and operation permits for certain stationary sources of air pollution, based on the amount of specified air contaminants emitted by the sources. Current law also requires certain stationary sources for which an air pollution permit is required to use what is called best available control technology (BACT) to control emissions of certain air pollutants. BACT requires the maximum degree of emission reduction achievable as specified by the permitting agency on a case-by-case basis, considering energy, economic, and environmental impacts.

Read the full summary

EPA promulgated regulations, effective in 2011, requiring stationary sources that emit over threshold amounts of greenhouse gases to obtain construction and operation permits and requiring those sources to use BACT for greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are gases, including carbon dioxide, that trap heat in the atmosphere. DNR promulgated corresponding rules. More recently, EPA modified its regulations by providing that, before July 21, 2014, carbon dioxide emissions from the burning or decomposition of organic material, other than fossil fuels, will not be counted toward the threshold for permitting because of greenhouse gas emissions or toward the requirement to use BACT. The modified federal regulation excludes from counting toward the threshold, for example, carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the decomposition of waste in a landfill, from burning gas derived from a landfill or manure digester, and from burning wood, wood waste, and other biomass.

This bill prohibits DNR from considering carbon dioxide emissions from the burning or decomposition of organic material, other than fossil fuels, in determining whether an air pollution construction permit or operation permit is required because of greenhouse gas emissions and in determining whether a stationary source is required to use BACT for greenhouse gas emissions, as long as this prohibition is consistent with federal law.

Who's behind it

9 lawmakers are its ⁠. 8 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

2 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 11 names

Authors (9)

Signed on in support (2)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 4 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Natural Resources vote to recommend it

Passed, 16 to 0 · Jan 24, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment vote on an amendment

Passed, 7 to 0 · Feb 8, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate vote

Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 13, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote on an amendment

Passed, 90 to 5 · Feb 21, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Senate amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 90, Noes 5”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 5, 2012

    The new law was published.

  2. Apr 3, 2012

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 171.

  3. Mar 30, 2012

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Feb 21, 2012

    “Action ordered immediately messaged” (the official wording)

  5. Feb 16, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  6. Feb 16, 2012

    The Assembly adopted it.

  7. Feb 14, 2012

    The Senate passed it too, 33 to 0.

  8. Feb 14, 2012

    The Senate adopted it.

  9. Feb 13, 2012

    “Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  10. Feb 13, 2012

    Sent to the Joint Committee on Finance.

  11. Feb 8, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.

  12. Feb 2, 2012

    The committee held a public hearing.

  13. Jan 31, 2012

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

  14. Jan 27, 2012

    The Senate received it.

  15. Jan 26, 2012

    The Assembly passed it.

  16. Jan 24, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  17. Jan 24, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 16 to 0.

  18. Jan 18, 2012

    The committee held a public hearing.

  19. Jan 17, 2012

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  20. Jan 11, 2012

    1 more representative signed on in support.

  21. Jan 9, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.

  22. Jan 9, 2012

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Jan 9, 2012 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Klenke, Brooks, Litjens, Steineke, Krug, A. Ott, Endsley, Ballweg and Molepske Jr;Cosponsored by Senator Galloway

  2. Jan 9, 2012 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources

  3. Jan 11, 2012 · Assembly

    Representative Jacque added as a coauthor

  4. Jan 17, 2012 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Jan 18, 2012 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  6. Jan 18, 2012 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  7. Jan 24, 2012 · Assembly

    Report passage recommended by committee on Natural Resources, Ayes 16, Noes 0

  8. Jan 24, 2012 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  9. Jan 24, 2012 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 1-26-2012 by committee on Rules

  10. Jan 26, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  11. Jan 26, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  12. Jan 26, 2012 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  13. Jan 26, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed

  14. Jan 26, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  15. Jan 27, 2012 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  16. Jan 31, 2012 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  17. Feb 2, 2012 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  18. Feb 8, 2012 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  19. Feb 8, 2012 · Senate

    Report introduction and adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0 by committee on Natural Resources and Environment

  20. Feb 8, 2012 · Senate

    Report concurrence as amended recommended by committee on Natural Resources and Environment, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  21. Feb 8, 2012 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  22. Feb 13, 2012 · Senate

    Referred to joint committee on Finance by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  23. Feb 13, 2012 · Senate

    Withdrawn from joint committee on Finance and made Available for Scheduling by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 41 (1)(e), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  24. Feb 13, 2012 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 2-14-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  25. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Read a second time

  26. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Senate amendment 1 adopted

  27. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  28. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  29. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 33, Noes 0

  30. Feb 14, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  31. Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly

    Received from Senate amended and concurred in as amended (Senate amendment 1 adopted)

  32. Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  33. Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-21-2012 by committee on Rules

  34. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Senate amendment 1 concurred in, Ayes 90, Noes 5

  35. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Action ordered immediately messaged

  36. Mar 1, 2012 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled

  37. Mar 30, 2012 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-30-2012

  38. Apr 3, 2012 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 171

  39. Apr 5, 2012 · Assembly

    Published 4-16-2012

Terms on this page

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Wisconsin Act

The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.

Official term: Act

More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote

More in the glossary