14-05-2025
Potential future use for Kewaunee Power Station revealed
KEWAUNEE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – Residents of the town of Carlton are finally getting answers about a potential project at the Kewaunee Power Station that has caused widespread apprehension.
When people began approaching residents asking them to sell their land, rumors began circulating that EnergySolutions, the owner of the Kewaunee power plant, needed the extra land for solar, wind, or even AI farm projects.
'It's a very unsettling feeling for me because it's a huge decision,' said town of Carlton resident Jason Walechka who said a Milwaukee-based real estate company has approached him about selling land he owns near the power plant. 'I would still like to own and retain my farmland so I can keep farming, that is one of my main concerns.'
A Tuesday morning press release from EnergySolutions quelled some of these suspicions. Company officials announced they are pursuing an early site permit at the Kewaunee Power Station to potentially bring nuclear power back to the site.
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'We are excited to partner with WEC Energy Group to explore the next generation of nuclear power,' said Ken Robuck, President and CEO of EnergySolutions. 'With rising energy demand driven by data centers, artificial intelligence and industrial growth, the need for reliable, carbon-free power has never been greater. By bringing our nuclear licensing and project development expertise to the table, we look forward to supporting WEC in the early planning stages for newnuclear generation in Wisconsin.'
EnergySolutions representatives were at a town board meeting on Tuesday night to answer questions constituents had about the project. They answered questions about the nature of the project which town supervisors said was one of the most common questions from constituents.
'There's no discussion on solar or wind, it's all nuclear that is being discussed,' said Joe Zwetolitz.
He said that they're trying to purchase about 1500 acres of land around the power plant. So far, they've secured about 350 acres. He said they will adjust the final scope of any potential project based on how much land they obtain.
'Because the amount of power that they want to generate is greater than what they have on the site currently their interest in making sure they have enough room to do what they want on the property is what drove the offers for the adjacent land around our current property,' he said.
Zwetolitz said that EnergySolutions doesn't have the power to obtain land through eminent domain. He said he couldn't speak for WEC Energy Group though.
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'The offers made to purchase are all the offers we will make,' said Zwetolitz. 'There's no intention to seek additional owners or look for any other plats than have been offered.'
'Just to get the answers for the questions, we have more witnesses so we can hold them to their word,' said town chairman David Hardtke when asked why this meeting was important.
EnergySolutions is in the process of decommissioning the current Kewaunee Power Station site. It closed in 2013.
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