Sen. Bradley and Rep. Steffen honored for taking bold action to address energy challenges
Milwaukee – Senator Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) and Representative David Steffen (R-Howard) are the 2025 winners of the Emerging Energy Champion Award for the bold actions they have taken to protect Wisconsin’s energy and economic future.
The award is given to people in the public eye who understand the energy needs of the future, have the courage to take a stand on fusion technology, and see the opportunity to leverage our region’s top-ranked nuclear energy research to build a global hub with significant opportunities for our manufacturing base and thousands of good paying jobs.
5 Lakes Institute presented the award on May 6, at a reception following the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit, which attracted 300+ attendees from academia, industry and the public sector to learn more about fusion technologies and discuss how to build a fusion energy center of excellence from UW-Madison’s strong research in this area.
“Senator Bradley and Representative Steffen have been instrumental in recognizing the energy needs of Wisconsin and the world-class nuclear research, particularly in fusion energy, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,” said John Byrnes, Chairman of 5 Lakes Institute. “We applaud their foresight and vision for seeing how the state and region can benefit from building out from UW-Madison’s top-tier energy research.”
Sen. Bradley and Rep. Steffen were lead authors and promoters of a package of two bills and one resolution that support nuclear development in Wisconsin. The resolution proclaims Wisconsin is a good nuclear development location and that the state’s technology has potential to strengthen national security and provide safe, clean energy.
One of the bills would create a State of Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board to direct the state to host a summit and provide funding for it. The other would direct the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study for a new nuclear plant to be erected in the Madison area. Wisconsin uses about six times more electricity than it generates, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
During the Summit, 5 Lakes Institute also launched the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Alliance. As the global race to commercialize fusion energy intensifies and creates a market projected to be worth trillions by 2050, the Alliance will bring together the region’s extraordinary engineering and precision manufacturing assets and leading university research to build a world-class fusion energy engineering consortium.
Fusion energy, the process that powers the sun and stars, is a long-sought-after way to produce limitless clean and safe electricity. Most in the industry expect fusion energy to put electricity on the grid as early as the 2030s. Technical challenges remain to achieving widespread power generation with fusion energy, but much progress is being made.
“Senator Bradley and Representative Steffen are laying the groundwork for a secure energy future for the state and an economic engine built around UW-Madison’s world-leading nuclear research,” said John Myer, 5 Lakes Institute Fellow and Senior Counsel in the Madison office of Husch Blackwell. “It will create growth and good-paying jobs and sets Wisconsin apart in the competition to attract and retain top talent and companies in this rapidly growing industry.”
About 5 Lakes Institute:
Founded in 2007, the Institute is a curated network of entrepreneurs, research organizations, investors and business and government leaders that drives and amplifies diverse and inclusive tech-enabled GDP growth in the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
5 Lakes Institute operates virtual programs in partnership with Midwest Research University Network (MRUN) that connect university commercialization and innovation leaders with investors and highlight the region’s related initiatives, ideas and resources. The Institute also holds conferences and mixers in tech/entrepreneurial focus areas and sponsors the Midwest Moxie podcast, which features the region’s successful startup founders.
Senator Bradley:
Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) receives the 2025 Emerging Energy Champion Award from Kathleen Gallagher, Executive Director, 5 Lakes Institute, following the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit on May 6.
Representative Steffen:
Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) receives the 2025 Emerging Energy Champion Award from John Byrnes, Chairman, 5 Lakes Institute, following the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit on May 6.
