On February 17, 2026, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced the official launch of a site selection study for a new nuclear power plant in his State of the State address. The study will be conducted by the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Nuclear Engineering, with expert support from Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.

This study is mandated by the SB125 bill signed in July 2025. It will focus on evaluating opportunities for fission and fusion projects, sites for advanced reactor demonstrations, regulatory processes for small modular reactors, and the feasibility of siting new nuclear plants near existing and retired coal-fired power plants. The study must be completed by early 2027.

Wisconsin currently has only one operational nuclear power plant, the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, which came online in the 1970s. It houses two 615-megawatt pressurized water reactors and supplies 16% of the state's total electricity generation. The state has seen frequent activity in the nuclear sector recently: in January of this year, EnergySolutions submitted a license application for a new project at the closed Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant; and the AB 472 bill, which proposes new tax credits for new nuclear power plants, recently passed the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Wisconsin Governor Evers stated: "Nuclear power is our nation's largest source of clean energy. It's safe, reliable, carbon-free, and an ideal choice for powering our homes and businesses. This could be a game-changer for our state. I'm pleased this work has received bipartisan support in this session."