TUE AM News: Nuclear Power Summit Board assessing options to pay for conference; DOJ joining coalition in challenging fuel economy standards rule

October 6, 2026

— Members of the state’s Nuclear Power Summit Board are assessing options to cover the cost of a planned industry event, which could go as high as $900,000 under the most expensive estimate from agency staff.

“We don’t have anything in our budget allocated for this,” WEDC Secretary and CEO John Miller said yesterday during a meeting of the board, pointing to registration fees, sponsorships and the potential for state budget funding as possible avenues for supporting the summit.

The board was created last year through legislation signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers alongside a bill directing the state Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study. It’s tasked with organizing, hosting and promoting a nuclear summit in Madison, aimed at educating attendees, advancing nuclear power and fusion energy technology and showcasing the state’s nuclear sector.

The two-day conference is envisioned as a 500-person summit, representing industry, government, higher education, utilities, investors and economic development groups. Along with keynotes and general sessions, staff described plans for an innovation and technology expo and manufacturing tours for visitors to the state.

Sara Beuthien, senior events director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., yesterday shared an outline for three event concepts at various price points, as well as details on possible dates in 2028 for the summit.

The lowest-tier option was estimated to cost between $300,000 and $400,000, while the middle-tier option ranged from $435,000 to $570,000, including upgrades such as entertainment, a venue that’s distinctive to Madison, “high-profile” speakers and an interactive expo hall.

Meanwhile, the highest-tier went from $630,000 to $900,000, and would include nationally recognized speakers, “premium” production and an immersive, themed experience.

Beuthien noted these estimates represent gross expenses, so any associated revenues tied to the summit could help offset costs. Options include tiered pricing for registrations, sponsorship dollars and exhibitors paying to take part.

Looking ahead to next year’s budget process, Miller said: “I assume we will make an attempt for some money” and asked for input from lawmakers on the board. Rep. Angela Stroud, D-Ashland, referenced a fiscal note attached to the original legislation that had $250,000 listed for the summit.

“Could we, those of us that voted for it, make a strong case for a budget line to that effect and then fundraising make up the rest, or something like that?” she said. “That seems reasonable and in-line with the assumptions that went into voting for the bill.”

Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, said he agreed with Stroud and called on lawmakers on the board to work together to get that amount in the state budget for the event. The other two are Sens. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, and Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove.

“Having all four of us as a part of that should be helpful in that regard,” Steffen said.

Ratcliff spoke in favor of allocating state funding to the summit, arguing “this is a way to have economic development” and attract businesses to Wisconsin communities. She called for targeting the middle-tier or highest cost for the event.

“We’re looking at a really important utility, nuclear fusion, for our state to be the leader in this,” she said. “So going small for less dollars, I think is not going to really show what we’re aiming to do here.”

But Bradley took a more reserved stance, echoing Steffen’s earlier remarks that “there’s no guarantees” and stressed the financial challenges the Legislature will be facing going into the next budget process. The state’s estimated budget surplus is about $3 billion.

“I would strongly caution us against counting on state funds,” he said. “Could it happen? You know, I guess that’s possible. But I would take a very cautious approach to expecting any funding coming from the state.”

The board meets next on Dec. 2, when WEDC staff will provide a report on possible dates for the conference and potential venues, as well as conflicts or overlap with other conferences happening at the same time. From there, the board will go further on financing and content, Miller said.

“Well the good thing is, we have 18 months,” he said. “But 18 months goes quickly.”

Watch the video.

— The Wisconsin Department of Justice and dozens of other states, counties and cities are challenging a federal rule they say is “weakening” fuel economy standards for certain vehicles.

The state DOJ recently announced it has joined a coalition filing a petition for review against a final rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration related to corporate average fuel economy or CAFE fuel standards for new passenger cars and light trucks.

In the release, the state agency says the rule “significantly weakens fuel economy standards,” harming both consumers and the environment. DOJ says it misinterprets the NHTSA’s statutory authority and “improperly forces the agency to ignore the presence of millions of electric vehicles” in the nation’s existing fleet.

Plus, the rule would end a CAFE credit training program in 2028, which members of the coalition say would negatively impact the electric vehicle industry.

“Under this rule, drivers will pay more for gas and our air will be more polluted,” Dem Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement. “NHTSA should be held to what the law requires.”

See the release.

— Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, says “there’s a cost to it” when companies like Harley-Davidson manufacture parts or pieces overseas and not in the United States.

“Any decision you make as a business, there’s a cost you take into account,” Greer said on WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “We’re trying to help companies understand that if you make in America, you build in America, you’ll have the benefits of sourcing from America, and that means no tariff.”

Greer and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy talked to “UpFront” inside the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee as the G20 Trade Ministerial was coming to an end.

“If you’re going to go overseas, that’s fine. You can do that. There’s just going to be a fee on foreign goods that are made by foreign workers coming in here,” Greer said.

Harley-Davidson has previously said the Trump administration’s tariffs cost the company $67 million in 2025.

“I want more Americans employed here making stuff,” Greer said. “Today I heard from the Australian trade minister that some of the hubcaps are made for Harley in Australia. That’s great. That’s great, you know, it’s great for Australia, and I’m sure Harley has a good reason for doing that, but the reality is we want people making stuff here. Harley is a great American producer. They employ a lot of people here, and we want to support them.”

Earlier this year, 10 Wisconsin companies sued the Trump administration over its tariffs policy seeking a refund.

“Well, I don’t think so,” Greer said when asked if U.S.-based companies should receive a refund. “My view on this, and I’ve shared this with a lot of companies, is if you’re going to get money back, if you’re going to take this money back out of the Treasury because you want to import, you should be plowing this back into wages for your workers. You should be plowing it back into bonuses for people making things here. You should be plowing it back into investment in this country.”

Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman, said “this is an election around the cost of living,” dismissing the notion that the Trump administration’s tariffs policy will have a big impact in November.

“I don’t think that’s going to come into play in this election cycle,” Duffy said. “This is an election around the cost of living, and I think the president has been incredibly focused on it.”

Last week’s Marquette University Law School poll showed 70% of Wisconsinites said they either somewhat or strongly oppose raising tariffs on imported goods from Canada.

“So when I was in Congress, we have a lot of dairy farmers in Wisconsin, and I heard complaints for the near 10 years I was in Congress about how unfair Canada was for dairy exports,” Duffy said. “And so they may have been analyzing this today, but President Trump and Jamieson are trying to get America to a better place, a fairer place, and I think the days of foreign countries taking advantage of America being able to sell their products in America tariff-free but then putting tariff or non-tariff barriers on American products, those days are over.”

See more from the show.

See more coverage from the G20 Trade Ministerial.

— The Wisconsin Realtors Association has launched an ad campaign urging a vote in favor of a constitutional amendment that would bar governors from using their partial veto to raise taxes or fees.

The WRA’s Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance, a c4 nonprofit, is running the ad statewide on YouTube, streaming and Meta platforms. The group said it’s a six-figure campaign.

The narrator in the 30-second spot says property taxes went up last year because Gov. Tony Evers used the partial veto to turn a “two-year increase into one lasting four centuries.” The narrator adds K-12 property taxes last year saw the largest increase in the past 30 years, and this November question one would prohibit governors from using their partial veto to increase a tax or fee.

The narrator concludes the spot, “Stop veto tax hikes. Vote yes on question one.”

— The New North has named Barbara Koldos as its interim president and CEO, replacing outgoing leader Patti Habeck.

Habeck is resigning effective Oct. 15 for a “community focused opportunity” in the nonprofit sector, according to yesterday’s announcement.

New North Co-Chairs Sachin Shivaram and Mary Goggans say they’re thankful for Habeck’s leadership, and expressed confidence in Koldos going forward. She’s been serving as vice president of business development for the group since 2021.

“Barbara has built strong relationships with businesses, communities, investors and economic development partners throughout Northeast Wisconsin,” they said in a joint statement.

See the release.

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