Gov. Tony Evers announced a partnership agreement between the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to undertake a study exploring nuclear energy opportunities in Wisconsin.
In July 2025, Gov. Evers signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 12 to establish a nuclear power siting study and signed the 2025-27 Biennial Budget Bill which included $2 million in funding to support the study. The nuclear power siting study will bolster knowledge and understanding of how Wisconsin’s nuclear energy potential can help meet the state’s growing need for carbon-free energy.
According to the PSC’s most recent Strategic Energy Assessment, nuclear energy accounts for 16 percent of the state’s energy generation portfolio. Currently, Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers is the only nuclear power plant in operation in Wisconsin.
The overarching goal of the siting study is to provide foundational information and thorough evaluation of potential nuclear energy development opportunities in Wisconsin to help guide future actions. The study scope encompasses traditional nuclear power, small modular reactors, and advanced technologies including fusion energy. It will identify various siting opportunities, and analyze site characteristics and suitability, regulatory and permitting requirements, and impacts to local economies and the power grid.
Information from industry experts at the Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories will be incorporated into the study, as will feedback from recent experiences with the construction and operation of nuclear projects. Act 12 requires the study be completed by the start of 2027.
