The Sconi

Wisconsin is approaching the conclusion of "Clean Energy Week," as declared by Governor Tony Evers. The Badger Institute has provided substantial literature on this topic.

The state will likely need to increase electricity production, even as coal-fired power plants are being shut down due to federal regulations and Evers' goal for Wisconsin to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 2050.

Electricity demand is expected to rise because of data centers, initiatives encouraging electric car usage, and potential moves towards electric home heating instead of natural gas. Currently, most homes in Wisconsin use natural gas or propane for heating. Heat pumps, the probable electric replacement, consume significant electricity in cold climates—enough to add about $20,000 in heating costs over 15 years for a typical Wisconsin home, according to a study by the Badger Institute. Despite this, Evers has maintained a pathway toward potentially banning natural gas use in homes.

Electricity bills have been increasing rapidly after a period of stability. Alternative sources like utility-scale solar installations do not require fuel and have regulatory benefits due to their lack of carbon dioxide emissions but can face issues related to extensive land use. Additionally, solar installations and wind turbines generate power less reliably than coal and gas plants.

Nuclear power is another option. It requires little land and produces reliable electricity, which has led to renewed interest across political lines in states like Michigan. The Biden administration’s Department of Energy has also shown new interest in nuclear energy, reporting that new plants could be added at existing sites, including those in Wisconsin. The development of "small modular reactors" may reduce costs and expand nuclear energy's applicability, attracting interest from Wisconsin’s rural electric cooperative market.

It's important to note that Wisconsin faced a similar power supply crisis in the late 1990s but overcame it primarily by building new power plants and expanding transmission capacity.

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