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MCFARLAND — Dane County has committed to using 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035.

It didn’t make front-page news, but the Dane County Board just passed a resolution to join hundreds of other cities, counties and states committed to immediate climate action.

This resolution, which I was proud to sponsor, followed President Donald Trump’s ill-conceived announcement to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord.

Despite claims from Trump and others, the scientific consensus is clear: human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels such as coal to generate electricity, are primarily responsible for accelerating global climate change.

And these changes are already being felt right here in southern Wisconsin with more frequent extreme weather events, including flooding, warmer temperatures and shorter winters. We’re also seeing an increase of invasive species and a loss of native fish and wildlife habitat.

That’s why the County Board wants to do its part in addressing the risks of climate change and go beyond the modest goals of the Paris Accord. We’re committed that by 2035 all electricity for county government operations will come from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro and solar.