As we appreciated in 2023, after a few concerned community members started monitoring for PM2.5 with community-level sensors, Beloit received the designation by IQ Air as "the most polluted regional (smaller) city in the US."
This designation made it clear," just because you are not monitoring doesn't mean you don't have a problem."
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) is NOW accepting written public comments for its draft 2026 Air Monitoring Network Plan through June 12th, 2025.
The gaps in air monitoring in Wisconsin are an issue of environmental justice, and we remain committed to advocating for communities unjustly overburdened with industrial air pollution and under-monitored. These communities include, but are not limited to: Beloit in Rock County, Racine in Racine County, and Superior in Douglas County.
These gaps are even more evident when comparing the Wisconsin and Illinois 2025 Air Monitoring Network Plans, industry-reported emissions, and their respective ALA 2025 State of the Air Report grades:
| Cook County, IL | Rock County, WI | Sheboygan County, WI | Racine County, WI | Milwaukee County, WI | Douglas, County, WI | |
(metric tons CO2) | 1,834,445 | 3,135,426 | 2,505,769 | 107,178 | 10,744,879 | 786,227 |
| # of Reporting Facilities | 23 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 3 |
| Ozone Monitors | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| PM2.5 Monitors | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| PM10 Monitors | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 ALA Grade: Ozone | F | F | F | F | F | No Data |
| 2025 ALA Grade: PM2.5 | F | No Data | No Data | No Data | F | No Data |
Edit the draft comment on the right to reflect your community's concerns and ask the WI DNR to expand their air monitoring network to better monitor the air and protect vulnerable communities - Submit your comment TODAY!