Community Vote

Update: May 30, 2019 - MGE Shareholders for Clean Energy (SCE), a grassroots shareholder group, released the results of the community vote on Madison Gas & Electric (MGE) producing a roadmap to eliminate coal and move to 100% renewable energy by 2050 or sooner. An astounding 98.8% of those who voted wanted MGE to produce the public report. SCE offered to meet with MGE representatives to discuss the results, but were turned down by MGE’s chief counsel.

The subject of the vote mirrored the resolution that four shareholders submitted to be included in the 2019 MGE proxy statement. However, MGE hired a Chicago law firm that successfully blocked the resolution from a shareholder vote under the Trump-administered Securities and Exchange Commission.

MGE did announce a goal of net zero carbon electricity by 2050 at the May 14 shareholder meeting, but SCE’s shareholders are concerned that the goal may not be enough to mitigate the impacts from climate change, as seen worldwide on a daily basis with increased intense weather events.

“Although climate change is a global problem, the community vote clearly demonstrates our desire for MGE to show local leadership and get off all fossil fuels,” said Don Ferber, one of the shareholders that filed the original resolution.

“We see that MGE is responding to the community voice by increasing its adoption of solar and wind, but it needs to quicken the pace and be an example for other utilities to follow,” said Beth Esser, a Monona-based shareholder and mother of two young children.

“I want my children to know that everyone in their local community, including MGE, is doing everything they can to make their future less a climate disaster,” Esser continued.

MGE also announced that it will set up a relationship with UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute to assess how to get to MGE’s net zero carbon from electricity goal.

Don Wichert, Madison shareholder and Nelson Institute graduate said: “It’s great that MGE is using the highly regarded Nelson institute to assess the net zero carbon goal. The process should be open and should also look at achieving 100% renewable energy versus net zero, as well as reducing carbon emissions 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 as climate reports are urging.”

2019 MGE Renewable Energy Vote Summary and Results

In November 2018, four MGE shareholders submitted a resolution for the 2019 MGE Proxy statement which asked MGE to produce a public report on how they will eliminate coal and move to 100% renewable energy by 2050 or sooner .
MGE hired a Chicago law firm to successfully challenge the resolution at the Trump administered Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The reason given by MGE was the resolution interfered with “ordinary business” and “micromanaged the company” even though a similar proposal was in the 2018 proxy.
MGE Shareholders for Clean Energy (SCE) organized a community vote on the same proposition since the Dane County community includes both MGE shareholders and customers.
On May 14, MGE set a goal of net zero carbon electricity by 2050 at the annual shareholder meeting. In addition, MGE would establish a relationship with the UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute to analyze how the net zero carbon goal could be attained.
MGE SCE shareholders believe the net zero carbon goal may not be adequate to forestall the worst impacts of climate change, and that a 100% Renewable Energy public report should be done, which the Nelson Institute could include as part of their net zero carbon assessment. Another important aspect of the public report would assess how MGE could reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 from 2010, which the IPCC recommends.
Over 1100 community members voted as of May 28, with 98.8 percent voting for MGE to produce the 100% renewable energy public report (see graph below). Representatives of SCE requested a meeting on May 30 with an MGE official to discuss the results of the vote, but were turned down.

Update: May 14, 2019 - Today, Madison Gas & Electric announced a goal of net-zero carbon electricity by 2050. While the stated goal is different than a plan to get a 100% clean energy, carbon-free future, we're happy that MGE has begun to listen to the community and each of our voices by announcing this new goal. Thank you to all those who have already voted. Please ensure your voice continues to be heard by voting below.

Madison Gas & Electric says it is our community energy company. But as municipalities across Dane County were acting to go to 100% renewable energy, MGE sought to use new Trump Administration legal guidance to prevent its shareholders from voting on a grassroots call to create a plan for 100% renewable energy. That's the same goal that Governor Evers recently set and what scientists say is necessary to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

Unfortunately, MGE used the Trump Securities and Exchange Commission to successfully block the shareholder vote from happening at its 2019 May Annual Meeting.

While the shareholder vote won't happen, the community should have a voice -- and a vote.

Please register your vote on the call for a road map to 100% renewable energy. We'll share results with MGE and public to show the level of community support for a sustainable future.