Wisconsin businesses and government leaders have taken a renewed interest in nuclear power as advanced nuclear technologies, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), and other innovative designs offer the promise of improved safety, cost reduction, and scalability. This summer, Gov. Tony Evers signed two bipartisan bills aimed at positioning the state as a leader in next-generation nuclear power. These statutes direct the state to conduct a nuclear siting study and establish a nuclear power summit in Wisconsin to advance the state’s leadership and innovation in this area.
Join us on October 28 at 4:30 p.m. CT as our panelists examine what these legislative steps mean for Wisconsin’s energy landscape, the role of advanced nuclear technologies in the state’s economy, and how communities and stakeholders can engage in shaping the path forward.
Registration is requested for in-person attendance and required for online attendance. Click here to register.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a barrier free campus and is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. If you need an accommodation for this event please let us know by emailing outreach@energy.wisc.edu or calling 608-890-0946. Requests made with less than 3 weeks’ notice will be honored when possible.
Moderator
Paul Wilson, Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Chair, Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, UW-Madison
Paul Wilson is the Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering and the Chair of the University of Wisconsin-Madison‘s Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics. His research interests focus on developing improved tools for computational modeling of complex nuclear energy systems, with applications in radiation shielding, nuclear waste management, nuclear non-proliferation and energy policy. Paul joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an assistant professor in August 2001 as part of the Energy Systems and Policy Hiring Initiative.
In addition to the research pursued by his Computational Nuclear Engineering Research Group (CNERG), Paul has served in a number of advisory and consultant roles. From 2001-2003, he was a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Generation IV Technology Roadmap Committee. In 2010, he was engaged as a consultant to the CEA Saclay, ERC Petten, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future.
Panelists
Sen. Julian Bradley, Wisconsin State Senator, 28th District
Julian Bradley knows the American Dream is alive and well – because he’s lived it. Raised in poverty by a single mother, he learned early the importance of honesty, diligence, and perseverance. Those values guided him on a remarkable journey that has taken him across the country and down many unique paths – from wrestling rings to corporate boardrooms to the halls of Wisconsin’s State Capitol.
Today, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Utilities, Technology, and Tourism, Senator Bradley is leading the charge to secure Wisconsin’s energy future. He’s authored siting legislation to lay the groundwork for expanding the state’s nuclear portfolio, and spearheaded a bill to establish Wisconsin’s first-ever nuclear energy policy conference. And he’s not done yet. Senator Bradley is committed to advancing bold, forward-looking nuclear policies that will drive innovation, attract investment, and deliver affordable, reliable, and carbon-free energy to Wisconsin families and businesses. A proud resident of New Berlin, he devotes much of his free time to helping young people with career readiness and literacy, ensuring that others have the same chance to pursue their own American Dream.
Robb Hughes, Head of External Affairs, Realta Fusion
Robb Hughes is the Head of External Affairs at Realta Fusion, a commercial fusion energy startup based in Madison. A recovering management consultant who previously supported the U.S. Department of Energy's advanced research projects division, Robb has spent his entire career working at the intersection of early-stage energy technology and strategic communications to help innovative companies provide a more abundant future for everyone on planet Earth. Robb's work at Realta Fusion spans strategic communications, government relations, and community engagement within Madison and across the state of Wisconsin. When Robb's not talking about energy, thinking about energy, or dreaming about energy, you can find him rocking out at the Majestic, fixing up an old mid-century modern on the north side, or romping around the Madison park system with his wife Sam and his dog Juniper.
Kevin Nordt, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Dairyland Power Cooperative 
Kevin Nordt is Dairyland Power’s Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer. He is responsible for the strategic leadership of Dairyland’s Corporate Strategy & Analysis Division. This includes exploration of nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) and the development of fuel strategies to support Dairyland's vision to be a premier, member-driven energy cooperative.
Nordt joined Dairyland in November 2023 as Chief Strategy Officer and was promoted to EVP & CSO in May 2024. He most recently worked at Grand County Public Utility District in Ephrata, Wash., where he held the roles of Chief Resource Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director, Power Management.