Power Plants in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's generating fleet holds 19.7 gigawatts of capacity as of August 2026, ranking 26th among the 50 states and DC. Natural gas makes up 41.5% of that capacity across 40 plants, while coal accounts for 24.9% across 6 plants. Solar installations comprise 14.6% of capacity despite being spread across 116 plants, whereas the single nuclear facility provides 6.6%. Wind, hydro, and other sources round out the fleet, with battery storage contributing a minimal 0.2%.

The largest plants anchor the state's capacity. Elm Road Generating Station, a coal plant with 1,403 megawatts, leads the fleet. Point Beach Nuclear Plant follows at 1,311 megawatts, and Port Washington Generating Station, burning natural gas, holds 1,230 megawatts. Columbia and Weston, both coal plants, contribute 1,112 and 946 megawatts respectively. These five facilities alone represent roughly one-third of the state's total generating capacity.

The fleet spans more than a century, from Whiting, which came online in January 1891, to McFarland Schools Customer Hosted, which entered service in June 2026. This range reflects Wisconsin's long history of power generation alongside recent investments in new capacity.