Power Politics: Dairyland Wisely Explores Zero-Carbon Nuclear; Greens not Cheering

by Patrick McIlheran

One of the following two things happened this month. Guess which one didn’t:

1. Dairyland Power Cooperative said it’s exploring whether a cutting-edge miniature nuclear reactor might someday substitute for fossil fuels in generating electricity for rural western Wisconsin.

2. Environmental groups that have long declared carbon emissions from fossil fuels to be the moral equivalent of an incoming asteroid heard the news and, in joy, organized a parade to celebrate.

That’s right. You didn’t miss the parade because there wasn’t one. Greens didn’t celebrate. That’s one hell of a shame, if you think they mean what they shout about the climate.

Dairyland seems to mean it. “We’re all in on less carbon. We think it’s the right thing,” said Brent Ridge, the co-op’s CEO.

The La Crosse-based company is made up of about two dozen electric cooperatives that supply power to mostly rural homes, farms and businesses, mostly in western Wisconsin. Roughly 22% of the power is generated by wind and solar, most of it contracted from turbine farm owners. About 75% of it comes from burning coal and natural gas.

Renewables will likely be a bigger part of the mix by 2024 because a big solar project in southern Wisconsin is coming online, said John Carr, the co-op’s vice president for strategic growth.

Read the full column here.

Inside the Capitol

On Wednesday, Badger Institute Vice President Michael Jahr provided testimony regarding the strategies for reducing the occupational licensing backlog in our state in front of members of Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform.

To read Michael's full testimony, click here.

Inside the Beltway

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics last week released the Consumer Price Index data for February, and it shows prices continuing to increase at an alarming rate, including for food.

“This latest data showed that compared with February 2021, food prices rose a whopping 7.9%. The size of this year-over-year increase hasn’t been seen in more than 40 years. Actually, the size of January’s year-over-year price increase (a 7% rise) also had not been seen in more than 40 years.”

Source: Heritage Foundation

On Air

Badger Institute Policy Director Patrick McIlheran joined WIBA’s Vicki McKenna this week to debunk DPI claim that expanding school choice would cost taxpayers $500 million.

To listen to Patrick's interview with Vicki, click here.

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States Taking the Lead on Universal Licensing

Here is a current list of states that have adopted universal licensing recognition.

1. Arizona (2019)
2. Colorado (2020)
3. Idaho (2020)
4. Iowa (2020)
5. Kansas (2021)
6. Mississippi (2021)
7. Missouri (2020)
8. Montana (2020)
9. Nevada (2017)
10. New Hampshire (2018)
11. New Jersey (2018)
12. New Mexico (2016)
13. Oklahoma (2021)
14. Pennsylvania (2019)
15. South Dakota (2021)
16. Utah (2020)

Source: Council of State Governments

Weekly Survey

Is it time that Wisconsin recognize occupational licenses that were issued in other states?

At a Glance

School Choice Wisconsin statewide survey of 700 likely voters conducted by OnMessage Inc., Feb. 13-16

• Cap Times: Licensing backlog plagues would-be therapists, social workers in Wisconsin

• Patch: Waukesha gas station fights rivals' claim its fuel is too cheap

• Empower Wisconsin: Evers' licensing agency is a bureaucratic nightmare



• Townhall: School choice shifts power back to American parents

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