Wisconsin has a weird relationship with the atom. You’ve probably driven past the massive cooling towers or seen the steam rising off Lake Michigan and wondered if those 1970s-era domes are still pulling their weight. Honestly? They aren’t just pulling their weight; they’re basically the only reason the state's carbon goals haven't totally collapsed yet.
When people talk about nuclear plants in Wisconsin, they usually think of a dying industry. It’s a fair assumption. We’ve seen plants close down across the Midwest, and the political climate around nuclear energy is, well, complicated. But the reality on the ground in 2026 is a lot more nuanced than just "old tech vs. new tech."
Right now, the heavy lifting is done by a single site. Just one.
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The Last One Standing: Point Beach
Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant sits right on the edge of Lake Michigan, just north of Two Rivers. It’s been there since 1970. It’s old. But it’s also a workhorse. Owned by NextEra Energy Resources, this two-unit plant produces about 1,200 megawatts of power. To put that in perspective, that’s enough to keep the lights on in roughly a million homes.
Think about that for a second. One spot on the map handles a massive chunk of the state’s baseload electricity.
The interesting thing about Point Beach isn't just that it’s still running; it’s that it’s slated to run for a long time. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) actually pushed its license out to 2050 and 2053 for its two reactors. That means we’re looking at an 80-year lifespan. Most cars don't last fifteen years, yet we’re trusting 1970s hardware—heavily upgraded, of course—to power our AI-driven, electric-vehicle-heavy future for another three decades.
Why Kewaunee Quit
You can't talk about the current state of things without mentioning the ghost next door. Kewaunee Power Station was Point Beach’s neighbor. It shut down in 2013, and not because it was broken. It was actually performing great.
It closed because of money.
Back then, natural gas prices were plummeting, and the market wasn't rewarding nuclear for being carbon-free. Dominion Energy tried to sell it, nobody bought it, so they pulled the plug. Now, it’s a decommissioned shell. It serves as a cautionary tale: in the energy world, being "clean" doesn't always save you from the "bottom line."
The Massive Misconception About Safety and Waste
People get twitchy when you mention nuclear. I get it. We’ve all seen the movies. But if you look at the actual data from the NRC and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the safety record of nuclear plants in Wisconsin is remarkably boring.
That’s a good thing.
The biggest "problem" isn't a meltdown; it’s the trash. Since the federal government still hasn't opened a central repository (looking at you, Yucca Mountain), every bit of spent fuel Point Beach has ever produced is still sitting right there on the shore of Lake Michigan. It’s in dry casks—massive concrete and steel cylinders.
Is it ideal? No.
Is it leaking? No.
But it’s a political stalemate that defines the industry. We have the technology to manage it, but we lack the political will to move it.
The Carbon Conundrum
Here is a fact that usually surprises people: Nuclear provides about 15-18% of Wisconsin’s total electricity, but it accounts for nearly 90% of the state’s carbon-free power.
Solar is growing. Wind is all over the Ridges. But they’re intermittent. When the wind dies down in Fond du Lac and the sun sets over Madison, Point Beach is still huming at 90% capacity. Without it, Wisconsin would have to lean almost entirely on natural gas and coal to bridge the gap.
Is a Nuclear Renaissance Actually Happening?
For years, the answer was a flat "no." But the conversation is shifting. We’re seeing a massive surge in interest regarding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Unlike the behemoths at Point Beach, SMRs are smaller, factory-built, and theoretically much cheaper to install. There’s been talk among state legislators about lifting old restrictions to make Wisconsin a friendly place for this new tech. Why? Because the "Big Three" utilities—WEC Energy Group, Alliant, and MGE—are all under pressure to hit net-zero goals.
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They know that 100% renewables with current battery tech is a massive gamble.
The Economic Ripple Effect
When Kewaunee closed, the local economy took a gut punch. We’re talking about hundreds of high-paying jobs—engineers, security, specialized technicians—disappearing overnight. Point Beach currently supports roughly 700 full-time employees. During "refueling outages," which happen every 18 months or so, they bring in an extra 800 to 1,000 contractors.
They stay in local hotels. They eat at the local diners. They buy gas.
If Point Beach were to disappear tomorrow, the Manitowoc and Kewaunee County economies would look very different. This is the part of the "green energy transition" people forget: you aren't just replacing electrons; you're replacing a tax base.
What This Means for Your Electric Bill
Nuclear is weirdly expensive to build but relatively cheap to run once it’s there. Because the capital costs of Point Beach were paid off decades ago, it provides some of the most stable pricing in the state's energy portfolio. It’s a hedge against the volatility of natural gas.
If we see a push for new nuclear in Wisconsin, expect your "Renewable Energy" or "Infrastructure" riders on your bill to go up. New nukes are not cheap. The Vogtle plant in Georgia proved that—it was billions over budget and years late.
Wisconsinites are notoriously frugal. We want clean air, but we really want $0.14 per kilowatt-hour. Balancing those two desires is where the future of nuclear will be decided.
Actionable Insights for Wisconsin Residents
If you want to stay ahead of how this affects your home and your wallet, here is what you actually need to do:
- Monitor the PSCW Dockets: The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) is where the real decisions happen. Watch for "Integrated Resource Plans" from your utility. If they start mentioning "Advanced Nuclear" or "SMR feasibility," they are laying the groundwork for rate increases to fund new builds.
- Understand Your Energy Mix: Check your monthly bill or the utility's annual report. Most Wisconsin residents get about 15% of their power from nuclear. Knowing this helps you understand why your rates stay stable when gas prices spike.
- Local Land Use: If you live near former coal plant sites (like the Oak Creek or Columbia plants), keep an ear out for "Coal-to-Nuclear" transition studies. These sites already have the transmission lines, making them prime candidates for future small-scale reactors.
- Vocational Opportunities: If you have kids entering the workforce, the "nuclear technician" field is seeing a massive gray-wave of retirements. With Point Beach licensed through 2050, these remain some of the highest-paying non-degree or technical-degree jobs in the state.
The story of nuclear in Wisconsin isn't over. It’s just moving out of the "massive dome" era and into something much more technical, localized, and politically charged. We aren't just looking at old plants; we're looking at the anchor of the entire state's grid.
References and Real-World Context:
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Wisconsin State Profile.
- NRC Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-24 and DPR-27 (Point Beach Units 1 & 2).
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Carbon Mitigation Reports.
- NextEra Energy Resources Operational Data (2024-2026).