Over the last twelve months, from June 2024 to May 2025, the state of electricity consumption in Wisconsin reveals a significant reliance on fossil energy, with more than half of the electricity derived from fossil fuels, primarily gas and coal, at approximately 33% and 31%, respectively. In contrast, clean energy sources, including nuclear power, solar, and wind, collectively constitute a quarter of the electricity mix. Nuclear energy takes the lead amongst low-carbon sources, contributing nearly 13.4%. Solar energy is emerging with a modest share of about 5%, while wind and hydropower make up nearly the remaining 6%. Additionally, Wisconsin imports around 11% of its electricity, further diversifying its energy portfolio. This distribution signifies a pressing need for Wisconsin to reduce its dependency on fossil energy and increase its clean energy share to mitigate climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Wisconsin?
In terms of electricity growth, Wisconsin has seen a decline compared to its consumption peak in 2007. Currently, the average electricity consumption is about 12,246 kWh per person, down by 1,131 kWh from the previous record of 13,377 kWh per person. Similarly, the low-carbon electricity generation per capita, at 3,062 kWh, has seen a decline of 269 kWh since 2012. These figures underscore a worrying stagnation in both overall and clean electricity consumption over the past decade. Notable declines or stagnation in the growth of clean energy need to be countered with proactive measures to ensure that Wisconsin can meet growing electricity demand created by initiatives like electrification and the rise of AI technologies.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Wisconsin can consider expanding its nuclear energy capacity, given its current significant contribution. Additionally, Wisconsin can draw inspiration from regions like Illinois and South Carolina, where nuclear energy comprises a large portion of the energy mix at around 50% or more. For solar and wind energy, learning from successful clean energy transitions in regions such as Lebanon and Nevada, where solar energy contributes 31% and 29% of the electricity mix, respectively, could serve as a model for Wisconsin's solar initiatives. By strategically investing in nuclear and solar energy, Wisconsin can significantly reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and progress toward a more sustainable and clean energy future.
History
Historically, Wisconsin's low-carbon electricity generation has seen varied changes, especially in nuclear energy contributions. In the early 2000s, nuclear generation fluctuated slightly, with years like 2005 seeing a decrease but subsequently recovering. The early 2010s were marked by significant nuclear output variances; 2011 experienced a decline, but 2012 bounced back strongly. Unfortunately, there were notable declines in 2013, 2014, and again in 2017. Despite these setbacks, solar energy has shown promising growth with recent increases starting in 2024, indicating that Wisconsin is indeed moving towards embracing solar as a key clean energy source for the future. These historical insights highlight the critical need to stabilize and expand nuclear and solar power to achieve a robust low-carbon future.