2025 WISCONSIN ACT 12
An Act to create 196.025 (8) of the statutes; relating to: a nuclear power siting study.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
12,1Section 1. 196.025 (8) of the statutes is created to read: 196.025 (8) Nuclear power siting study. (a) Definition. In this subsection, “advanced nuclear reactor” has the meaning given in 42 USC 16271 (b) (1).
(b) Nuclear power siting study. 1. The commission shall conduct a nuclear power siting study that does all of the following:
a. Identifies nuclear power and fusion energy generation opportunities on existing nuclear and nonnuclear power generation sites.
b. Identifies new nuclear power and fusion energy generation sites not currently dedicated to power generation.
c. Identifies sites for the development and demonstration of nuclear power and fusion energy generation and advanced technologies derived from and associated with nuclear fission and fusion, including advanced nuclear reactors.
d. Develops and provides guidance for advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors including small modular reactors and fusion energy generating technologies.
e. Considers the siting study conducted by the U.S. department of energy in 2024, titled “Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant and Coal Power Plant Sites for New Nuclear Capacity.”
f. Reviews the approval and permitting processes for small modular reactor projects currently under development to gain understanding of potential approval timelines for such projects.
g. Engages with the federal nuclear regulatory commission to gain insight into small modular reactor approval processes and specific opportunities for streamlining the federal and state approval processes for small modular reactors.
2. The commission may use a request-for-proposal process to contract with a 3rd party to conduct all or part of the study required under subd. 1.
3. On or before the first day of 19th month beginning after the effective date of this subdivision .... [LRB inserts date], the commission shall submit a report containing the results of the study required under subd. 1. to the legislature in the manner provided in s. 13.172 (2). In the report submitted under this subdivision, the commission shall discuss and assess methods of streamlining the process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity under s. 196.491 (3) for large electric generating facilities that contain an advanced nuclear reactor.
