The Assembly has sent to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk several measures to boost nuclear power in Wisconsin.
SB 125, approved by voice vote, would require the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study. The bill would also require the PSC to submit a report on the study to the Legislature within a year after the bill takes effect, and set new deadlines for the agency to approve permits for a plant.
Evers had proposed investing $1 million to study siting a new plant.
Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston, said lawmakers “can’t be living in the past” of nuclear disasters like those seen at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
“This is something for the future. If you want the cleanest energy, then nuclear has to be included,” Snyder said yesterday. “Otherwise there’s not enough of the non-carbon energy to be able to supply the needs of this United States — especially if we move toward electric vehicles and everything that goes electric, we need this kind of energy.”
Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee, said nuclear energy could be part of the conversation on reducing carbon emissions in the state. But he argued more work needs to be done before moving forward and said the bill puts the cart before the horse.
“Do we really want to move forward in the nuclear energy space? If so, what’s the best way to do that? If not, how can we promote alternative energy sources instead?” Moore Omokunde said. “I bet if we went door-to-door in our districts today, I can almost guarantee that no one is going to want a nuclear plant sited in their backyard, for health concerns, for property value concerns. We need to have the conversation first.”
A new board would be created to organize, promote and host a nuclear power summit in Wisconsin under SB 124, which the Assembly approved by voice vote.
Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, said the goal is to bring international investors, innovators, educators, scientists and policymakers to Wisconsin in 2028 to discuss nuclear energy. He said the summit would coincide with the opening of UW-Madison’s new engineering building.
The chamber also signed off by voice vote on SJR 7, a resolution supporting nuclear power and fusion energy and declaring the state’s “commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power, fusion energy, and nuclear technologies.”
