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Energy and Environment

Mark Neumann's energy platform will end Wisconsin's dependence on foreign oil within one generation by using free market incentives and conservative principles, which results in the creation and relocation of thousands of jobs to Wisconsin without destroying existing jobs.

• Mark Neumann is opposed to Cap and Trade and Doyle's '25 by 25' plan.
• Mark Neumann supports ending Wisconsin's dependence on foreign oil.
• Mark Neumann supports research and development in energy technologies so that Wisconsin can become a global leader in this area.
• Mark Neumann supports promoting companies that are saving money and creating jobs by reducing energy consumption. These companies can be used as a model for other companies to follow.
• Mark Neumann is opposed to having the government choose, directly or indirectly, one energy solution over another or one type of production over another type. This decision should be made by market actors like producers and consumers who are in a better position to choose than the government.
• Mark has signed the No Climate Tax Pledge issued by Americans for Prosperity, which states "I will oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue."

The Problem: Government Mandates

Mark Neumann opposes further regulations and mandates such as Cap and Trade and Governor Doyle's 25 by 25 plan.

Government mandates and further interference will drive more businesses and their jobs out of Wisconsin and out of America. In fact, the current level of mandates and regulations are primary reasons why companies leave our state and country in search of a better business climate. We don't need more government, we need less.

As a businessman in a highly regulated industry, Mark Neumann knows firsthand how excessive regulation and red tape creates a detrimental effect on business. Higher operating costs for businesses create a disincentive in terms of business expansion and job creation.

Republican Platform

Many voters – Republican and Democrat alike – are concerned about the environment. They realize that one of Wisconsin's greatest assets is our quality of life, which includes enjoying our clean lakes, rivers, and forests, and they wish to continue enjoying Wisconsin's beauty for generations to come.

The problem is that the Democrats have been the only ones talking to these voters, which has allowed them to control the platform. Voters concerned about the environment only hear about the goal of reduced carbon emissions driven by the fear of global warming. Reaching this goal is only presented to them through government mandates and regulations. These proposals drive business out of our state and out of our country.

Republicans must give these voters another option. We must present our own solution, framed in terms of energy independence, the free market and less government. Reducing costs and taxes by reducing energy use is a conservative issue. Lower energy taxes lead to less government. We can preserve the beauty of Wisconsin, lower energy costs and taxes, and gain a competitive advantage in drawing businesses to our state with conservative solutions. As Republicans and conservatives, we must explain why the free market is the best route to lower our dependence on foreign oil and create the technology of the future.

The Neumann administration will not cowardly avoid discussing energy and environmental issues. We will work to provide conservative solutions to end our dependence on foreign oil utilizing the creative energies of the free market; without government mandates, regulations, rules, or red tape.

The Solution: Capitalism!

As Governor, Mark Neumann will set a vision and implement a plan that will allow companies and individuals to achieve as much as their initiative will afford. The market is an amazing thing. When we talk about the market, we are really talking about people. We are talking about producers who make products available for countless people who wouldn't have those products otherwise. We are talking about consumers who drive others to use their creativity and enthusiasm to come up with solutions to problems, make life more convenient, and drive technology into the future. People do these things best when there is less government holding them back or telling them what to do.

Technology will continue to improve and costs will come down. As Governor, Mark will reduce existing government incentives in accordance with the reduction in costs, and eventually eliminate all government incentives in order to allow the free market to work. Instead of creating government mandates, Mark will encourage adoption of energy producing technologies by showing Wisconsin businesses the benefit to their bottom line. Click here to see Mark's blog post regarding competition with other states.

Achieving the Vision

Imagine: within one generation, Wisconsin is energy independent. This might seem like a lofty goal, but consider; when Mark Neumann was in college, a computer filled a room and required a stack of punch cards to operate. Now, one short generation later, our cell phones have at least ten times more power than those old mainframes. The speed at which technology improves is amazing, and the energy sector is no exception.

Job Creation

As a business owner who has created private-sector energy solutions, Mark Neumann understands the potential for thousands of jobs in this industry, and that Wisconsin can and should lead the way in the research and development of these technologies. If Wisconsin leads the way in this area of cutting-edge technology, companies looking to start up and relocate will naturally consider Wisconsin a front-runner.

There is a misconception that jobs in renewable energy or energy savings industries 'cost' jobs in other areas. This is only true if the marketplace is manipulated by government mandates and regulations. Jobs are not a zero-sum game in a free marketplace. As long as the jobs and products of the industry are demanded and the government is not creating barriers or taxing other sectors to pay for it, jobs will not necessarily be lost in other areas. The market will decide, through the will of consumers, which jobs and products are the most demanded by the people.

Why Companies Will Agree

An unburdened marketplace provides its own incentives to reduce carbon emissions and energy use by utilizing efficient technology and production processes. By reducing energy use, companies can save money. The savings can then be used for jobs, expansion, and other things that benefit the company, its workers, and consumers. Rather than forcing companies to use certain kinds of products or forcing them to produce in a certain way, Mark thinks the companies themselves as well as consumers are best situated to make these decisions.

Example: JohnsonDiversey

JohnsonDiversey has initiated a program to reduce their carbon emissions 25% over the next 10 years. Their initial investment was $14 million dollars. Their savings from this investment are an astounding $32 million dollars. The best part about this plan is that it won't cost the taxpayer one dime, and they will achieve their goal without having to pay exorbitant regulation costs. This is a great example of the market solving the problem of high energy costs. By taking this path, JohnsonDiversey will save money. This will enable them to use their resources for job creation and capital expansion.

Example: Energy Producing Home

Another example is the Energy Producing Home made at Neumann Developments. Using geothermal and solar energy (both of which are available today), the home produces all the energy needed for heating and cooling the home, running all the appliances, and enough extra electricity to run an electric automobile back and forth to work. Most significant is that the cost to the homeowner is less than if they bought a similar home built to traditional standards.

Alternative Energy

To be sure, with the supply of oil continuing to fall and the demand continuing to rise, the cost of oil will become prohibitive. This law of economics cannot be altered. Allowing the market to work and improve our technology into the future is the best route to take. We shouldn't be looking to government to solve our problems because they tax companies for regulations and tend to force companies to use methods and products that are not economically viable or sustainable; we should be allowing the people to use their creativity and initiative to come up with solutions. Allowing companies, and therefore consumers, to choose methods and products is the best way to lower prices and spark innovation. Mark does not support government mandates, regulations, rules, red tape, or subsidies as they relate to the use of ethanol, solar power, nuclear power, or other forms of energy.