WisBiz Green Blog
Nuclear Developments in Wisconsin
By Gregg Hoffmann
Whether you consider nuclear energy a green energy or not, it is gaining a lot of attention in Wisconsin.
The state is forming a Nuclear Power Summit Board and the Public Service Commission will conduct a nuclear power siting study under a pair of bills the governor approved.
Gov. Tony Evers signed SB 124, now Wisconsin Act 11, to create a Nuclear Power Summit Board. The board will be tasked with organizing, promoting and hosting a nuclear power summit in Milwaukee.
Evers also signed SB 125, now Wisconsin Act 12, which requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study. The state budget allocates $2 million toward the study.
“We can’t afford to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment or creating good-paying jobs and building a strong economy, and by working toward clean energy options Wisconsinites can depend on in the future, we’re doing both,” Evers said in a statement.
He added the bills are an important step toward lowering energy costs and improving the state’s energy independence.
A few days after Evers’ action, SHINE Technologies of Janesville announced a new partnership with a Tennessee company, Standard Nuclear, aimed at turning recycled nuclear fuel into a “strategic asset” for new fuel production.
SHINE CEO and founder Greg Piefer called the agreement an “important step toward closing the nuclear fuel cycle” and making nuclear energy renewable.
“Together, we’re building the ecosystem needed to turn waste into a strategic asset and move closer to a future where clean energy is both practical and sustainable,” Piefer said in a statement.
Under the partnership, Janesville-based SHINE will provide recycled nuclear materials such as uranium and plutonium from planned spent fuel recycling facilities to Standard Nuclear, which the company will use to produce a nuclear fuel product called TRISO. It will also be used to provide isotopes for power systems, according to the release.
TRISO is made of uranium particles contained within ceramic and carbon layers, and the company boasts better safety and durability at extreme temperatures for use in advanced reactors. The announcement notes Standard Nuclear is the only independent U.S. developer of this fuel for such reactors, helping to reduce domestic reliance on foreign production.
The companies aim to develop a “closed-loop, circular economic solution” to domestic nuclear fuel production. The one-year partnership framework hinges on SHINE’s approach to recycling the 90,000 metric tons of nuclear waste that’s currently stored in the United States, which the company notes contains “decades of untapped energy potential.” SHINE plans to start building its first commercial recycling facility in the early 2030s.
Dairyland Power also has been looking at nuclear options. The cooperative announced last week that Grover Hettel will join Dairyland as Executive Vice President & Chief Nuclear Officer on Sept. 2, 2025. Hettel comes to Dairyland with 40 years of utility industry experience in operations, engineering and maintenance. He will transition to Dairyland following his August retirement from Energy Northwest as EVP & Chief Nuclear Officer.
Nuclear energy provides about 14 percent of the electricity in Wisconsin, with the state's only operational nuclear power plant being the Point Beach Nuclear Plant. The state's clean energy plan suggests exploring new nuclear power as part of the clean energy transition. Previously, two nuclear power plants—Point Beach and Kewaunee—supplied about one-fifth of Wisconsin's electricity generation, but Kewaunee was decommissioned in 2013.
Groups registered in favor of recent nuclear legislation include the Wisconsin Utilities Association and several employee unions. The PSC also supports the bill, noting that an amendment to the bill keeps the current timeline for the commission to review applications for such electricity generation.
Opponents include Sierra Club Wisconsin, which says nuclear power “poses significant risks due to its high costs, long construction timelines, unresolved radioactive waste issues and the potential for catastrophic accidents.”
The environmental group Clean Wisconsin says the nuclear industry, not taxpayers, should fund siting studies.
The Sierra Club viewpoint reflects that of numerous environmentalists over the years. But, industry spokes people maintain that new smaller nuclear technology adds to safety and cuts costs.
“Wisconsin has all the right ingredients to be a nuclear energy leader—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. A siting study and summit are meaningful first-steps in moving nuclear energy and related investments in Wisconsin forward,” said Rep. David Steffen.
US Business News reported: “The advent of Generation IV reactors represents a significant leap forward in safety and efficiency. Designs like molten salt reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, and gas-cooled reactors prioritize inherent safety features. For instance, molten salt reactors utilize liquid fuel, which can self-regulate temperature and avoid overheating, significantly reducing the risk of accidents Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a game-changer for the nuclear industry. Compact and scalable, these reactors boast enhanced safety features, such as passive cooling systems that function without human intervention. SMRs are also more adaptable for remote locations and smaller grids, making nuclear energy accessible to diverse regions.”
The Trump Administration also has been bullish on nuclear developments. The President signed executive orders in May intended to quadruple domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years.
Nuclear power still comes with safety concerns. The Fukushima disaster in 2011 reignited fears about nuclear meltdowns, prompting some countries, such as Germany, to phase out their nuclear fleets, according to DW, German state own media outlet.
Even in countries still committed to nuclear, waste management remains an unresolved issue. Spent nuclear fuel remains radioactive for thousands of years, requiring highly secure and costly storage solutions.
So, the debates will continue but exploration of nuclear potential, along with solar, wind and biofuels, should continue and be increased. As has been argued many times in this forum, we should not become dependent on any one energy source. That was the mistake made when we concentrated primarily on just fossil fuels, which created many of the problems we now face.