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Nov. 4, 1966
November 4, 1966
Point Beach Nuclear Plant cancelled [1]
Just days before the midterm elections, the Wisconsin Electric Power Co. has announced the cancellation of plans to build a new atomic power plant in the state of Wisconsin. Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Electric announced plans to build a plant near the town of Two Creeks. Construction was scheduled to begin next year. Wisconsin Electric is a member of the same consortium of firms that developed Fermi 1, which melted down last month in Michigan. [2] Wisconsin Electric instead intends to build a coal-fired plant on the site.
Local and state officials have performed a sudden about-face on the construction of the plant after massive public opposition. Prior to the Fermi meltdown, the area's congressman had called the plant "a tremendous boost.” The Two Rivers city manager said, "I can't begin to tell you how pleased we are." [2] Today, support for the plant has vanished. “We don’t want to be another Michigan,” said one official, who wished to remain anonymous.
The cancellation of the plant comes as Wisconsin’s Republican governor Warren P. Knowles fends off his Democratic challenger, lieutenant governor Patrick Lucey. [3] Polls show a very tight race, with both candidates in a virtual tie. Since the Fermi meltdown, Lucey has used the construction of the plant in attack ads against the governor.