Noah Lieberman
Candidate for Common Council, Madison, WI
Noah has taken bold action on climate by organizing for more multifamily housing and expanded public transportation in Madison, both of which would lower carbon emissions and help transition the city to a post-fossil fuel society. In his role as Campaigns Chair for the Dane County Democratic Party, Noah has worked with and supported dozens of candidates who prioritize climate action. Personally, Noah commutes to work by bike or bus, and he and his wife had solar panels installed at their home.
Noah plans to lead the Madison Common Council in advancing climate justice. In particular, he will work to improve their rapid bus transit system and protected bike lane network, and expand the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loan program to ensure that homeowners and small businesses can access financial incentives for solar installations and energy efficiency upgrades.
Noah’s Vision
Invest in Public Transit
The most effective way we can lower Madison’s carbon footprint is to get cars off of the road. In order to do that, we need to make our bus system faster, more convenient, and more appealing to the average commuter. For more info on how we can do this, see my transportation policy.
Improve Flood Prevention
What were once generational downpours have now become nearly annual occurrences. Every time our city floods, homes are damaged, streets become unusable, and the impacts of climate change become incredibly tangible for everyone in Madison. We have to prepare for these storms by planting more rain gardens, retrofitting old buildings and streets, and working with the county to lower lake levels.
Clean Lakes, Parks, and Air
Madison’s natural beauty is one of its greatest assets - from the gorgeous lakes to the amazing parks, we need to do everything we can to keep our environment free from pollution. We must work with local organizations to cut down on dangerous pollutants in our water, hold our parks and public spaces to a high degree of excellence, and keep our air free of smoke and other irritants.
Walkable, Bikeable Communities
Our bike paths are a great resource for folks looking for a good workout ride or getting from one part of town to another. But people should be able to walk or bike within a neighborhood to go to offices, stores, and restaurants. We should put protected bike lanes and sidewalks on more streets and give pedestrians more opportunities to cross. But more than that, we need to open up our neighborhoods for mixed-used development, putting more shops and activities within walking or biking distance of where we live.
Expand PACE Loan Program
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans are a great way to incentivize businesses and developers to pursue clean energy projects while also making sound investments with our city’s budget. By expanding our PACE program to easily offer smaller-budget loans, we can extend this service to homeowners and small business owners who wish to make less costly, but still impactful, solar panel or energy efficiency projects.
Prepare for Heat Waves
Climate change means that we will continue to experience record breaking heat each summer, putting vulnerable people at risk of heat stroke and taxing our energy grid as air conditioning use exceeds expected levels. We need to work with our utility companies to enhance and safeguard the grid, as well as create more public shaded/cooled areas so those without AC are able to stay safe during heat waves.