Gov. Evers Announces New Clean Fleet Policy to Cut Down Emissions and Fuel Costs for State Vehicles, Reduce State’s Climate Impact

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that the Evers Administration has adopted a new Clean Fleet Policy, requiring state agencies to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, such as electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids, for new fleet vehicle acquisitions unless an approved exemption applies. The Clean Fleet Policy, created in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE), will ensure the state of Wisconsin—one of the state’s largest employers—is continuing to do its part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, improving air quality for Wisconsinites and reducing the state’s climate impact, actions that are especially important amid federal efforts to roll back clean vehicle and emission standards nationwide. The state’s fleet is comprised of just over 6,000 vehicles, only 14 percent of which are currently alternative fuel vehicles.

The policy will ensure the state continues to lead by example in achieving the goals articulated in Gov. Evers’ Executive Order #38 and the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan that was released by the Evers Administration in 2022 and finally put Wisconsin on a path for all electricity consumed within the state to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2050. The Clean Fleet Policy is also designed to continue building upon Gov. Evers’ and the Evers Administration’s work to both mitigate the effects of climate change and the rising costs of gasoline and diesel on agency budgets while also continuing to be good stewards of Wisconsinites’ tax dollars by saving taxpayers more in the long run. The policy encourages lifecycle cost analyses across different vehicle types, recognizing that the most sustainable option is often also the most cost-effective.

“Since Day One, my administration has been working to find ways to continue moving our state forward towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, and this new policy is another way we are proving that here in Wisconsin, we’re embracing a future where we don’t have to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment or creating good-paying jobs and having a strong economy—we are doing both,” said Gov. Evers. “This new policy ensures state government is leading by example and that future vehicle purchases continue working towards our emission goals as options like electric vehicles continue to become more accessible and available. Together, we’re working to build the clean energy future and sustainable 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsin needs and deserves.”

“We are excited to lead by example on clean energy use in encouraging state agencies to expand their alternative-fuel vehicle options, while ensuring flexibility in meeting state needs, realizing savings on fuel costs, and modernizing our fleet,” said Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “We’re especially grateful for Governor Evers’ vision and leadership on doing the right thing for the state, and ongoing support for the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy.”

This announcement builds on longstanding efforts of Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration to promote climate resilience through innovative transportation infrastructure and clean energy initiatives. As co-chair of the U.S. Climate Alliance, Gov. Evers announced last year that Wisconsin would be joining the Alliance’s Affordable Clean Cars Coalition. This multi-state initiative is aimed at sustaining America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, supporting U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and improving air quality for all. The Clean Fleet Policy also follows recommendations made by the state’s Clean Energy Plan, which recommends the state work to transition the state’s vehicle fleet to clean fuels and zero-emission vehicles. The policy also ensures continued compliance with requirements from the federal Energy Policy Act, as well as state statute, both of which encourage a transition to alternative fuel vehicles.

“The OSCE works to translate ideas into action,” said OSCE director Maria Redmond. “Strategies in the Clean Energy Plan and in the recently released Emissions Reductions Roadmap show a path for emissions reductions in the transportation sector. We are excited and proud to lead the state in transitioning to a cleaner burning fleet to ensure a healthy environment and economy in communities where we work.”

Earlier this year, Gov. Evers also announced that the state would be bolstering efforts to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Wisconsin utilities and renewable energy projects for the next two decades, continuing the state’s longstanding practice of leading by example and ensuring Wisconsinites have access to in-state renewable electricity. The state plans to purchase approximately 225,000 RECs every year for the next 20 years, representing 225,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity each year, which is enough energy to power more than half a million Wisconsin homes. By purchasing RECs, state agencies support Wisconsin-based jobs, local economic development, clean air, and clean water, while offsetting their net greenhouse gas emissions. The RFP seeks proposals capable of delivering RECs starting in January 2031 for a 20-year term, helping position state agencies and universities to achieve Wisconsin’s goal of 100-percent carbon-free electricity by 2050.

The new policy was drafted in collaboration with fleet managers and other experts across the enterprise, led by the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE) and the State Bureau of Procurement. The new Clean Fleet Policy will apply to class 1-5 vehicles with limited exceptions, for example, if a vehicle serves emergency functions or does not have adequate refueling infrastructure nearby. State agencies can select from a range of alternative vehicle fuel types, as outlined by statute, including fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, regular hybrids, and more.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON GOV. EVERS’ EFFORTS TO BUILD A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE IN WISCONSIN

Since Day One, Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have been committed to promoting climate resilience and building a clean energy economy in the state. In his first year in office, Gov. Evers joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, of which he is now the first Midwest governor to serve as an executive board member. The governor, along with his fellow U.S. Climate Alliance governors, is committed to collectively achieving the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change and has established an ambitious goal of ensuring 100 percent carbon-free electricity consumption in Wisconsin by 2050. In 2019, Gov. Evers also created the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, which advised and assisted the governor in developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change for the benefit of all Wisconsin communities.

In addition to joining the Alliance in 2019, in his first year in office, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #38 to create the OSCE, charging the office with developing the Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan to promote the development and use of clean and renewable energy across the state, advance innovative sustainability solutions that improve the state’s economy and environment, and diversify the resources used to meet the state’s energy needs.

In accordance with Gov. Evers’ Executive Order #38, the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan was released in 2022, providing a roadmap for the state to lower energy bills and prices at the pump for Wisconsin families, promote energy independence by reducing reliance on out-of-state energy sources, create an estimated more than 40,000 jobs by 2030, and invest in job training and apprenticeship programs in innovative industries and technologies. Since creating Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan four years ago, OSCE has released annual clean energy progress reports to outline the strides the state is making to meet our clean energy goals.

Additionally, in 2023, Gov. Evers created the Green Ribbon Commission on Clean Energy and Environmental Innovation to advise on creating the state’s first-ever Green Innovation Fund. The Green Innovation Fund and its partners work to leverage public and private financing to invest in projects that provide environmental and clean energy solutions to businesses, reduce pollution, lower energy costs for families, and expand access to clean, affordable energy options.

Earlier this year, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced that Wisconsin is now a national leader in enrollment for the Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebate programs, which have helped residents statewide reduce energy use and lower utility bills. Wisconsin was the very first state to make energy efficiency upgrades available under the Home Energy Rebates (HOMES) Program in August 2024 and remains one of only a handful of states in the country to offer both the HOMES Program and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Program, which was launched a few months later.

Since launching the programs in 2024, more than $12 million in rebates have been paid to Wisconsin households to install popular energy-efficient measures, including air sealing, insulation, heat pumps for cooling and heating, and electric panels and wiring. More about the state’s efforts through the HOMES and HEAR programs to help Wisconsin households save energy and money with energy-efficient home upgrades can be found on Gov. Evers’ press release page.

In July 2025, Gov. Evers signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 12 to launch a nuclear power siting study, supported by $2 million in funding provided by the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, and during his 2026 State of the State address, Gov. Evers announced a new partnership agreement between the PSC and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to undertake that study. The study will explore nuclear energy opportunities in Wisconsin and bolster knowledge and understanding of how Wisconsin’s nuclear energy potential can help meet the state’s growing need for carbon-free energy.

The Evers Administration, through the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, will continue to pursue efforts to expand clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build the sustainable, 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsin needs and deserves.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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