Realta Fusion

Jul 2, 2025

MADISON - Wisconsin is one step closer in a quest to become the "Silicon Valley" of nuclear energy, after Gov. Tony Evers signed two bills into law focused on drawing attention to research being done at labs across the state. Evers on July 2 signed into law one bill that facilitates the hosting of a nuclear energy summit in the coming years in Madison, and another that commissions a study to find a site for a new nuclear energy plant. “We can't afford to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment or creating good-paying jobs and building a strong economy, and by working toward clean energy options Wisconsinites can depend on in the future, we're doing both," Evers said in a release. “With new advanced nuclear technology and the increasing need for energy in Wisconsin, I'm excited to sign these bipartisan bills today to propel us into an innovative, clean energy future and bring more clean jobs to our state,” he said. Also included in the bill is an outline for how to spend the $2 million included in the budget to plan and execute the nuclear summit event. The hope is that the bills will promote the development of nuclear fusion in Wisconsin, which is the same source of energy that powers the sun and stars , instead of nuclear fission. The process is much different than fission, the nuclear reaction that powers current nuclear reactors and the atomic bomb. Fusion is a carbon-free process that relies on heated plasma, a gas made up of hot ions and free-moving electrons. The process doesn't create radioactive waste like current nuclear reactors do, so it eliminates the need to store harmful materials. Lawmakers' attention was drawn to fusion by three startup companies that have made Wisconsin their home, as well as research by the University of Wisconsin. One of the companies, Realta Fusion , worked with lawmakers as they drafted the legislation. Research is ongoing on how to scale up nuclear fusion technology for a plant large enough to power a city or a facility like the newly proposed Microsoft center in Mount Pleasant . But nuclear researchers and lawmakers say that doing a siting study now will allow work to move much more quickly once the technology advances. Three of the 45 companies working on fusion are already located in Wisconsin, and the new bills could encourage more to come here. While the technology is still years away from implementation, encouraging development here could encourage companies to site the technology in Wisconsin before other states. Evers signs four other bills into law The governor also signed four other bills into law July 2, ranging over a number of topics. The first defines psychiatric treatment facilities, establishes a certification process and operation requirements, and creates outlines for grants that can be awarded to residential treatment facilities. The $1.79 million is included in the budget. The second bill directs the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to develop and maintain a statewide portal to facilitate the sharing of safety plans for minors; requires DHS to develop a safety plan template to be used in developing such a plan and includes an outline for the spending of nearly $820,000 included in the budget. The third modifies the Wisconsin Department of Justice's child advocacy grant program, and outlines how the $2 million included in the state budget can be spent. The final bill requires the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to enter into a contract with a manufacturer to distribute hearing protection devices to state and local law enforcement, and fire departments, and outlines the spending of $2.6 million included in the budget. Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura