Madison, WI — The “Wisconsin Energy Reform Act” (WERA) just dropped, and with it comes a heavy dose of confusion, constitutional questions, and—surprise!—political silence from Governor Tony Evers.
Let’s not dance around it: is Governor Evers backing this thing or not? Because whether it’s AB25/SB28 or this new WERA acronym, Democrats are going to have to cross the aisle and vote for it. And the big question is—why?
Could it be because the American Transmission Company (ATC) only hires union labor for their multi-billion-dollar projects? If so, that’s a mighty convenient reason to lock out 70% of Wisconsin’s construction workforce—non-union workers—who’d be left watching from the sidelines while the money flows right past them.
Even more baffling? This bill doesn’t even have a Senate author. That’s like trying to fly a commercial jet without a copilot. Do you want to be aboard that plane? Yet, somehow, it’s still cruising along. And while all this is happening, Governor Evers has gone into stealth mode on a key part of the bill: the Right of First Refusal (ROFR). It’s a mouthful, sure—but it could reshape Wisconsin’s energy market and squeeze out competition. That’s a pretty big deal to stay quiet about.
Due to the bill’s potential to restrict competition in transmission projects, some Assembly Republicans are now seeking an opinion from the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice Antitrust Division. If this legislation truly promotes fair and open markets, then why does it require further legal review to ensure it doesn’t violate fundamental principles of competition?
Here’s the kicker: this bill could slam the brakes on competition in the transmission sector, yet somehow, there’s barely a peep from the press. No tough questions for Evers. No deep dives from watchdogs. Where is the rigorous questions from Wisconsin’s press corps? Where are the intrepid journalists demanding answers from the Governor and legislative Democrats?
I’m calling on Governor Evers, Democratic lawmakers, and—yes—the media to start answering real questions for residents of Wisconsin. If you’re going to push a bill that rewrites the rules for Wisconsin’s energy future, you better be ready to defend it in daylight.
