WisBusiness Luncheon: MGE’s Wolter endorses nuclear power plants

Nuclear plants must be part of the future energy mix if the United States wants to meet growing power needs and reduce global warming, Madison Gas & Electric chairman Gary Wolter said at a recent luncheon sponsored by WisBusiness.com, Madison Magazine and the Madison Club.

But don’t expect any of those plants to be built in Wisconsin, added Wolter, who is also president and CEO of MGE.

Wolter said no Badger State utilities have the financial wherewithal to pay for a nuclear plant. He also noted that Wisconsin law precludes even planning for such a facility until there is a place for disposal of the radioactive waste produced by a nuclear plant.

“They will be built in places other than Wisconsin,” he stated. “About 20 are in some phase of planning.”

Wolter also discussed conservation efforts, coal power and the siting of new power lines at the luncheon.