From July 2025 through June 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 58% of Wisconsin’s electricity consumption: gas contributed roughly 30% and coal 27%. Low-carbon sources supplied about 26%, led by nuclear at 13% and solar at 6%, followed by hydropower at 3%, wind at 2%, and biofuels at around 2%. Net imports accounted for another 16%; the data do not specify their generation mix, so they cannot be classified as clean or fossil electricity here. Wisconsin therefore still relies heavily on fossil electricity, with substantial room to expand clean generation and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin’s electricity consumption is growing, although slowly. The latest 2026 figure reached 13,057 kWh per person, surpassing the 2025 record of 12,950 kWh by 107 kWh, or about 0.8%. Low-carbon electricity generation also set a record, rising to 3,405 kWh per person from 3,347 kWh in 2025—a gain of 58 kWh, or about 1.7%. Both records are welcome progress, but faster clean electricity growth would better support electrification and the expanding electricity needs of AI.

Suggestions

Wisconsin should build on its existing nuclear generation by expanding output at existing facilities where feasible and considering additional nuclear capacity, alongside a substantial solar buildout. Neighboring Illinois offers a particularly relevant example: nuclear supplies 49% of electricity generation in that US state, compared with Wisconsin’s roughly 13% share of consumption. Solar’s potential is illustrated by the US states of Maine and California, where it supplies 18% and 31% of generation, respectively. Wisconsin can also learn from nearby wind leaders: wind supplies 57% of generation in the US state of Iowa and 21% in the US state of Minnesota. These regions show how nuclear, solar, and wind can contribute much more clean electricity, supported by investment in transmission and grid connections.

History

The supplied history shows modest, uneven gains in Wisconsin’s low-carbon electricity generation from 2024 through 2026. In 2024, nuclear led the increases with an additional 0.5 TWh, while wind added 0.3 TWh and hydropower and biofuels each added 0.1 TWh. Progress slowed in 2025: nuclear and wind generation were unchanged, while hydropower and biofuels each increased by 0.1 TWh. In 2026, hydropower added 0.3 TWh, but nuclear and wind each slipped by 0.1 TWh, and biofuels remained unchanged. That loss of momentum is disappointing when Wisconsin needs more clean electricity; sustained expansion of nuclear, solar, and wind would help turn these uneven changes into stronger growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.