Kewaunee site under consideration for nuclear new build

Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Kewaunee, a 566 MWe (net) pressurised water reactor, began commercial operations in 1974 and was sold to Dominion by Wisconsin Public Service and Wisconsin Power & Light in July 2005. Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions acquired the plant - which shut down in 2013 and is undergoing decommissioning - from Dominion Energy in 2022.

The company has now said it plans to begin initial planning and scoping activities to support the pursuit of an early site permit (ESP) from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at the Kewaunee site. 

An ESP certifies that a site is suitable for the construction of a nuclear power plant from the point of view of site safety, environmental impact and emergency planning, but does not specify the choice of technology. The permit is valid for 10 to 20 years, renewable for an additional 10 to 20 years.

EnergySolutions said it is working with Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group - the parent company of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service - to explore new nuclear generation in Wisconsin.

"EnergySolutions will execute a structured, multi-year, multi-phase approach," the company said. "This includes initial planning and scoping activities, conducting in-depth studies related to the Kewaunee Power Station site and environmental considerations, and ultimately securing NRC permits.

"With a proven track record in the nuclear industry, including regulatory support and project management across the US and Canada, EnergySolutions is well-positioned to support WEC Energy Group in this endeavour to advance nuclear energy as a cornerstone of a resilient and decarbonised power grid."

"We are excited to partner with WEC Energy Group to explore the next generation of nuclear power," said EnergySolutions President and CEO Ken Robuck. "With rising energy demand driven by data centres, 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 new nuclear generation in Wisconsin."

"The new nuclear generation will provide Wisconsin an important source of carbon-free, 24/7 generation to help meet the state's growing power demand, and provide customers energy security and stability," said WEC Energy Group spokesperson Brendan Conway.

Wisconsin Senator André Jacque welcomed the announcement, saying: "As a longtime advocate for resuming nuclear generation at this site, I'm encouraged to see a serious, structured plan taking shape that prioritises clean, reliable energy that Wisconsin and our nation urgently needs.

"While there have been serious concerns in the past about speculative proposals for the site's use, this is a plan that I believe our community can rally behind. It offers an opportunity to restore economic vitality, ensure long-term energy stability, and bring meaningful investment to our region, while respecting the voices and values of local residents and property owners, which I am committed to ensuring."

In December last year, EnergySolutions signed a memorandum of understanding with Terrestrial Energy to collaborate on the siting and deployment of Terrestrial's Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) plants at sites owned by EnergySolutions.

The IMSR is a so-called Gen IV reactor that uses molten salt as both fuel and coolant, with integrated components, which can supply heat directly to industrial facilities or use it to generate electrical power. It does this using conventional nuclear reactor fuel - so-called standard assay low-enriched uranium. The plants' thermal and electric power supply systems can be customised to meet specific site demand requirements, and can support distributed generation for energy-intensive industry.

In addition to the Kewaunee plant, EnergySolutions is also currently decommissioning Three Mile Island unit 2 in Pennsylvania, which it owns through its TMI-2 Solutions subsidiary, and is decommissioning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in southern California and Fort Calhoun in Nebraska. It has completed decommissioning work at the Zion plant in Illinois and the La Crosse boiling water reactor in Wisconsin.

Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe