Nuclear Revolution, Tribal Power Struggles, and a Solar Showdown: What’s Lighting Up the Great Lakes Energy Scene?

• Ontario plans a $20.9B project to build four small modular nuclear reactors at Darlington, aiming to supply half its energy with nuclear by 2030.
• Tennessee Valley Authority leads in the U.S. by seeking approval for a small nuclear reactor, with Michigan also exploring nuclear plant restarts.
• Wisconsin may revive the Kewaunee nuclear plant, with bipartisan support for studies into new nuclear generation.
• Coal is fading as Indiana retires older plants; Duke Energy’s costly natural gas proposal faces regulatory pushback.
• In Minnesota, a dispute between the Upper Sioux Tribe and a utility over a large solar array spotlights tribal sovereignty and renewable growth.
• Ohio moves to end coal bailouts; Indiana debates if natural gas qualifies as clean energy.

The future of energy crackles along the shifting shores of the Great Lakes, where smokestacks, reactors, and solar panels now spark animated debate and ambitious innovation. The familiar haze from coal is dissipating, replaced by new questions—and stunning investments—in the race toward cleaner power.

Ontario’s audacious leap: The Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has set its sights high, unveiling a visionary $20.9 billion blueprint to construct four small modular nuclear reactors beside the sprawling Darlington station, just east of Toronto. The crown jewel is a compact, 300-megawatt reactor crafted by GE Vernova Hitachi. Construction is officially a go, with hopes that its generators will hum by 2030. OPG’s nuclear ambitions could soon supply half the province’s energy, as government and private giants like GE stake their futures on small, nimble reactors—the first of their kind in the Western world.

Meanwhile, on the American side, momentum gathers:

• The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) seized headlines as the first U.S. utility to apply for federal approval to erect its own small nuclear reactor. The reactor age may be dawning anew.
• In Michigan, a resurgent spirit courses through Palisades, where plans to restart the storied nuclear plant are underway.

But Wisconsin is writing its own energy comeback story. On the Lake Michigan shoreline, the long-dormant Kewaunee Power Station is the focus of bold speculation. Owner EnergySolutions just revealed plans with Wisconsin’s electric utility parent company to explore “new nuclear generation.” The plant, resting quietly since 2013, may soon thrum back to life—if bipartisan winds hold. The Republican-driven push for a nuclear siting study in the state legislature converges with Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ $1 million bid for a nuclear feasibility study in his next budget. The state’s only remaining operational nuclear plant may not stand alone for long.

Coal’s twilight—and natural gas in the crosshairs: As the Cayuga Energy Complex in Indiana eyes retirement for its half-century-old coal units by 2030, sparks are flying between Duke Energy and state regulators. The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor’s energy division, helmed by Brian Latham, branded Duke’s $3.3 billion natural gas replacement plan as ‘ill-advised’ amidst a landscape now examining stricter environmental regulations and the promise of renewable alternatives. Is natural gas truly a bridge—or a barrier—to a cleaner grid?

Wild tensions ripple across the border in Minnesota, where a solar array—shimmering atop the Upper Sioux Community’s casino and hotel—is at the heart of a dramatic showdown. The Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association warns that the installation is simply too large to comply with their rules, threatening to cut power if the array goes live. But the Upper Sioux Tribe isn’t backing down, contending that utility rules cannot override tribal sovereignty. Both sides are calling in regulators for a ruling that could reverberate across the Midwest’s energy landscape.

Fast-moving currents you might have missed:

• Ohio takes the first real steps to end controversial coal bailouts after a bribery scandal.
• Indiana is now weighing natural gas as the next “clean energy” contender—much to the delight, and dismay, of observers.

You can practically hear the turbines whirring and feel the sun’s rays shimmering on the water, as the region’s energy transformation surges forward—uncertain, unstoppable, and utterly fascinating.

For a closer look at this electrifying crossroads, visit Great Lakes Now. Energy’s future is being rewritten—and the world is watching.

Watch: Video report on Great Lakes energy change

Click Here Before You Cheer: The Hidden Pros, Cons & Controversies of Great Lakes Energy Shifts!

• Pro: Bold Innovation & Clean Energy Investments

  Companies like Ontario Power Generation and GE Vernova Hitachi are investing billions in next-gen nuclear solutions, promising carbon-free electricity for millions and dramatically cutting emissions in the region.

• Pro: Economic Revitalization

  Restarting or retrofitting plants such as the Kewaunee Power Station could generate well-paying jobs, spark technology transfer, and help local economies rebound.

• Con: High Costs & Financial Risk

  Mega-projects from groups like Ontario Power Generation and prospective natural gas developments by Duke Energy involve eye-popping billion-dollar budgets and may pose financial risks to ratepayers if projections fall short.

• Controversy: Nuclear Power Safety & Waste

  While touted as clean, nuclear projects—backed by leaders from Tennessee Valley Authority to Tony Evers‘ administration—stir debate over safety, long-term radioactive waste, and public trust, especially following historic incidents.

• Limitation: Regulatory & Sovereignty Clashes

  Legal showdowns, such as the standoff between Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association and the Upper Sioux Community, expose the complexity of integrating new, large-scale renewables within existing regulatory frameworks—and the vital importance of respecting tribal sovereignty.

• Con: Uncertain Environmental Outcomes

  With some utilities, like Duke Energy, pushing natural gas as the next “clean” interim step, there is fierce debate from groups like the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor over whether this is a true bridge fuel or an obstacle to a sustainable grid.

• Controversy: Political & Ethical Scandals

  The aftermath of bribery and bailout scandals—most notably in Ohio—has prompted calls for dramatic reform. This has undermined public trust in utility oversight and put coal subsidies in the crosshairs.

• Limitation: Timeline for Impact

  The benefits of small modular nuclear reactors and grid-wide transformations may take years, if not decades, to fully materialize—potentially delaying climate action as the region transitions away from coal.

Shocking Energy Shifts: What Will Power the Great Lakes in 2030 and Beyond?

• Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Set to Boom

  With Ontario Power Generation launching a multi-billion-dollar plan at Darlington and GE Vernova Hitachi supplying the first-of-its-kind reactor, expect a surge in small nuclear projects across the region. By 2030, these innovative reactors could provide up to half of Ontario’s electricity, setting a global precedent for low-emissions grids.

• U.S. Embraces a Nuclear Revival

  The Tennessee Valley Authority has already filed for approval of a new small reactor, marking a nationwide trend. Watch for more utilities, especially in Michigan and Wisconsin, to follow suit—potentially restoring older plants and introducing new-generation facilities.

• Wisconsin Eyes a Nuclear Comeback

  Kewaunee Power Station could roar back to life, with bipartisan support and renewed private partnerships fueling feasibility studies. If state initiatives succeed, Wisconsin will likely add at least one new reactor by the early 2030s.

• Coal Plants Facing Final Days

  The next decade will see the rapid closure of legacy plants, like Cayuga Energy Complex. Ohio and Indiana are moving to end bailouts and permit retirements, accelerating the region’s exit from coal by 2030.

• Natural Gas: On Trial as a “Bridge Fuel”

  Companies like Duke Energy are clashing with regulators over new gas plants. Widespread skepticism, tougher climate policies, and rising renewable options may limit natural gas’s window, fast-tracking wind, solar, and battery investments after 2028.

• Renewables Surge—and Spark Controversy

  Projects like the Upper Sioux Community’s casino solar array (with disputes involving the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association) will become more common as tribes and communities push for energy independence. Expect new legal frameworks and regulatory rulings to shape who controls the future Midwest grid.

• Policy and Scandal Drive Rapid Reform

  The fallout from Ohio’s coal bailout scandal is prompting states to rethink how they subsidize energy—opening doors for cleaner technologies. Upcoming legislative sessions and gubernatorial races in the region could supercharge reform through 2030.

For more on these developments and ongoing coverage, visit Great Lakes Now and witness the unfolding energy revolution.