Dairyland Co-op sees nuclear as key element in local energy needs for the future

Nuclear power was once an important part of the La Crosse area’s energy supply, when Dairyland had a reactor in Genoa for about 20 years. The plant was decommissioned as nuclear in the 1980’s, converted to burning coal, and eventually was demolished a few months ago.

Now, Dairyland has nuclear power as a goal for local energy once again. Third District Congressman Derrick Van Orden says there’s still much opposition to nuclear energy from segments of the public.

“We do have a bunch of folks that unfortunately are driving an ideological agenda,” Van Orden tells reporters, “and they’re putting that above what is public safety.”

Van Orden and officials from Dairyland also are concerned about obstacles from the federal government in obtaining permits for new electric plants. Dairyland president Brent Ridge says the co-op has a mix of resources it plans to use in the next few years, including renewable energy and other resources, but nuclear is again a goal for the company.

Different forms of energy were discussed during a roundtable talk on Monday at the Dairyland Power headquarters in La Crosse, which included Ridge and Van Orden among the panelists.