Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Feb. 17 announced a partnership agreement between the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to undertake a study exploring nuclear energy opportunities in Wisconsin.
He made the announcement during his 2026 State of the State address.
In July 2025, 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,” the PSC said in a news release.
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.
The PSC signed a memorandum of understanding on January 5, 2026 with the UW-Madison Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to begin work on the nuclear siting study.
UW-Madison has one of the nation’s few remaining teaching and research nuclear reactors and is a national leader in fusion energy research.
In addition to the nuclear power siting study, in July 2025 Evers also signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 11, creating a Nuclear Power Summit Board designed to help advance nuclear power and fusion technology and development, and to showcase Wisconsin’s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry through the hosting of a nuclear power summit in the city of Madison.
