Madison – Representative Shae Sortwell (R-Gibson) released the following statement relating to opposition to Assembly Bill 472, which would expand nuclear energy in Wisconsin:
“With growing energy demand and Wisconsin already at an energy deficit, our state is in great need to expand our energy supply. There is no better option than nuclear energy – 24/7 clean energy. Assembly Bill 472 would expand nuclear energy in Wisconsin by providing multiple incentives to build while ensuring cost protections for residents. This legislation has been in the works for well over a year, involving dozens of meetings with the governor’s office, legislative Democrats, utilities, nuclear scientists, Clean Wisconsin, and Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Anyone can see the legislation has multiple amendments, showing that Senator James and I have sought a compromise with all the groups involved.”
“In the bill’s process, we have now seen multiple attempts where Clean Wisconsin and AFP make last-second efforts to kill the legislation, despite having ample time to work in good faith with Senator James and me. We extended an olive branch and amended the legislation to accommodate their concerns about construction work in progress (CWIP) terminology, along with added layers of protection for residents when a utility seeks cost recovery from the Public Service Commission (PSC).”
“Despite making the exact changes that they requested, these interest groups moved the goalposts, showing dishonest opposition. I can understand Clean Wisconsin’s position because they only want expansion of wind and solar energy, but AFP lobbied aggressively against what they thought were energy monopolies earlier this session. Yet now they oppose energy source diversity. However, with their organization being primarily funded by those with a large stake in fossil fuels, their opposition makes more sense. It is a sad day when an organization that claims to support liberty joins the fight with far-left environmentalists to shut down direly needed energy supply expansion, which would lower energy bills for Wisconsinites and create thousands of jobs.”
Representative Sortwell is available for comment.
