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Republicans Pitch Nuclear Energy Legislation
A group of lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol are trying to get ahead of the state’s future power needs with a new plan for nuclear power plants.
State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, as well as Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, and State Senator Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, introduced what they are calling the “groundwork for Wisconsin’s nuclear energy future.”
The three have two pieces of legislation that focus on adding new nuclear power stations in the future.
“Wisconsin has all the right ingredients to be a nuclear energy leader,” Rep. Steffen said. “From our advanced research and development sectors to our robust manufacturing industry, we are well-positioned to lead on this future energy source. It’s critical that we begin taking the necessary steps today to set the stage for nuclear development and investment so that we can meet the growing energy demands of tomorrow.”
The first part of Steffen and the Republicans’ plan would be a siting study to see where Wisconsin could build new nuclear plants.
Wisconsin will need more electricity in the future.
Microsoft’s new data center at the old Foxconn site is expected to come online in the next two years, and will be the state’s largest, single electric customer.
“We must have something that is safe, reliable, and affordable,” Bradley added. “Nuclear checks all the boxes and it's time for Wisconsin to be a leader in this space.”
Wisconsin has just one nuclear plant, the Point Beach nuclear plant in Two Creeks, which is just 15 minutes north of Rep. Sortwel’s home in Two Rivers.
“Not only is nuclear power safe, reliable, inexpensive and emission free, but with some of the latest developments in nuclear power, we'd be fools if we didn't support a nuclear future for Wisconsin,” Sortwell said.
The second piece of the nuclear legislation would host a Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit to “showcase Wisconsin’s leadership in the nuclear industry.”
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