Gubernatorial Candidate Talks Plan At Renewable Energy Fair Near Stevens Point

This being an election year, politics made its way into the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair near Stevens Point over the weekend.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brett Hulsey came to the MREA Fair at Custer on Saturday afternoon to shake the hands of fairgoers and talk about his green jobs plan.

“I’m Brett Hulsey, I’m running for governor. I want to invest $700 million in clear energy jobs,” he told some attendees.

Hulsey said the $700 million would go toward making state and local government buildings and schools more energy efficient and broaden the use of renewable energy at those sites. He said the loan money could come from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, a state agency that manages a long-ago-created school trust fund.

“They have a $900-million fund. They will lend it out (with) as little as or less than 3-percent interest. So many of these projects, they pay for themselves in five years. There’s a 20-percent rate of return,” he said.

Officials with the Portage County Democratic Party were also at the energy fair. Booth volunteers handed out stickers for Mary Burke, the candidate the polls say is the far and away leading Democratic contender for governor.

Mark Holbrook said he likes state Rep. Hulsey, but will be voting for Burke because he thinks she can defeat incumbent Republican Scott Walker.

“I’ve looked at the various people that are out there running against Scott Walker and I believe she has the best chance to win,” he said. “And right now, above everything else, I want a winner.”

Holbrook also said he believes Burke is willing to at least listen to Wisconsinites who want her to be more progressive on energy and environmental issues.