Dane County’s climate progress is built on local leadership.
In Dane County, climate action isn’t driven by a single policy or project. It’s built every day by local governments, schools, businesses, nonprofits and residents who believe we can protect our environment while strengthening our communities. Guiding much of this work is the strong leadership of Dane County’s Office of Energy & Climate Change, whose long-term planning and partnership-driven approach have helped turn shared values into real results.
In 2025, that collective effort delivered meaningful progress. Dane County became the first county in Wisconsin to achieve 100% renewable energy offsets for all county operations. At the same time, more than 200 public and private organizations across the county stepped up as Dane County Climate Champions, taking action to reduce energy use, conserve water, electrify fleets, and adopt sustainable land practices.
We’re also seeing leadership in our buildings. Communities like McFarland, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Verona and Middleton are investing in geothermal heating and solar energy for public facilities, schools, libraries and housing developments. Dane County’s new Public Safety Communications Center will be our first zero-emissions building, setting a clear standard for future county projects.
Dane County also continues to lead Wisconsin in electric vehicle adoption, with a quarter of the state’s registered EVs located here.
Just as important are nature-based solutions. From prairie plantings that store carbon to food scrap composting programs that keep organic waste out of landfills, these efforts show how environmental stewardship and community well-being go hand in hand.
This progress didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people across Dane County chose to lead. While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, this work is ongoing. Climate leadership is strongest when it spreads, and we look forward to building on this momentum together.
