State of Change Clean Wisconsin: your environmental voice since 1970

What if there was a grain that didn’t have to be replanted every year? One with deep roots that stay in the soil, trap carbon, prevent erosion, filter water. Kernza – the world’s first perennial grain crop – could be a game changer when it comes to sustainable food production and using our land to help fight climate change. But the big question: does is make a good beer? In this episode, Amy heads to Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee to find out.
Kernza® is the trademark name for the grain of an intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) being developed at The Land Institute in Kansas.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Russ Klisch, Owner & Co-Founder of Lakefront Brewery
Background Reading:  Climate-Smart Crops: Kernza
Kerna Crunch: The Race to Develop the First Perennial Grain Crop (podcast)
Impacts of Conventional Agriculture in Wisconsin
The Land Institute: Kernza Grain

No Mow May is here, but does it really make a difference in the battle to save our bees and butterflies? Amy walks through a typical Wisconsin yard with pollinator expert Elizabeth Braatz.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Elizabeth Braatz, Bumble Bee Brigade Coordinator and Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Background Reading:  Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade
Saving Wisconsin's Native Pollinators
Corn Ethanol vs. Solar: A Land Use Comparison 

When you think about the future of energy, do you picture you gas-fired power plants? In this episode, Amy looks at why power companies are racing to build new gas plants and what it means for the future of energy bills, our health and our climate.
We Energies, the largest power company in Wisconsin, recently announced plans to transition two major power plants from coal to natural gas, build two more new gas-fired facilities, and build another new facility to hold liquefied gas. If you think it sounds like a major shift toward more fossil fuel development, you're right. We Energies’ parent company WEC Energy Group filed an application with the Public Service Commission to get special accounting treatment on the high-dollar projects before they’ve established a need for all that gas.
Are gas-fired power plants the bridge to clean energy that power companies claim?
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guests: Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director, Clean Wisconsin
Katie Nekola, Attorney, Clean Wisconsin
Background reading: Under the Lens: The Truth About Natural Gas We Enegies Doubles Down on Gas

Wisconsin's Public Service Commission approved a large methane gas plant four years ago. The site: a bluff overlooking the Nemadji River near the Minnesota border in Superior. At ​the ​time, ​Superior's ​city ​council ​unanimously ​supported ​the ​project. ​But ​it ​didn't ​take ​long ​for ​opinions ​to ​change. 
In this episode, Amy talks with ​Superior City ​Councilor ​Jenny ​Van ​Sickle who ​at ​first ​supported ​the ​plant ​and ​is ​now ​helping ​lead ​the ​charge ​to ​stop ​it. ​Find ​out ​what ​has ​changed -- and what YOU can do to help fight the plant.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Jenny Van Sickle, Bumble Bee Brigade Coordinator and Terrestrial Insect Ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Background Reading:  Take Action Now: Call on federal officials to denty funding for the Nemadji Trail Energy Center
Fighting the Nemadji Trail Energy Center gas plant
Indigenous tribes urge federal officials to deny loan for Superior gas plant
 

1939. It's the year researchers at the University of Wisconsin developed a hearty red corn that could tolerate Wisconsin winters and feed the state’s dairy cows. Before long, farms all over the state were sending trainloads of their ruby red corn to feed livestock across the country. But it didn’t last. The 1970s ushered in genetically modified corn with enormous yields and out went Wisconsin’s home grown red variety. Until now...
In this episode, Amy heads to the home of J. Henry & Sons Bourbon in Dane County where Wisconsin’s old red feed corn is getting a  brand new life – as the key ingredient in world class bourbon.  A farm-to-glass experience that starts in the snowy fields of the Dairy State.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest: Joe Henry, J. Henry & Sons

It's no exaggeration to say PFAS 'forever chemicals' are everywhere. Some states have found PFAS tainting milk supplies and contaminating crops. What are the consequences of population-wide exposure to these toxic chemicals? Amy talks with Clean Wisconsin Science Program Director Dr. Paul Mathewson about the latest research.
Host: Amy Barrilleaux
Guest : Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director, Clean Wisconsin
Background reading: Learn more about the latest PFAS health research in Clean Wisconsin's recent comments to the Natural Resources Board on the impact of proposed groundwater standards Find out more about PFAS contamination in Wisconsin Read the latest PFAS Fish Consumption Advisories for Wisconsin View an interactive map of PFAS contamination sites in Wisconsin Like ‘State of Change?’ Subscribe! Be sure to rate our show and give us a review. It helps other people find us.
You can learn more about Clean Wisconsin and our work at www.cleanwisconsin.org
Sign up to get the latest news from Clean Wisconsin in your inbox at www.cleanwisconsin.org/email
Like State of Change? Help support our podcast and our work to protect Wisconsin’s environment at www.cleanwisconsin.org/donate