{"id":2422143,"date":"2025-04-10T14:12:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T18:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/several-wisconsin-republicans-push-back-on-updated-energy-bill-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-10T14:14:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T18:14:18","slug":"several-wisconsin-republicans-push-back-on-updated-energy-bill-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/several-wisconsin-republicans-push-back-on-updated-energy-bill-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Several Wisconsin Republicans push back on updated energy bill &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fseveral-wisconsin-republicans-push-back-on-updated-energy-bill-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2422143&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Several Wisconsin Republicans are expressing opposition to the newly introduced Wisconsin Energy Reform Act, which they believe revisits the controversial &#8220;right of first refusal&#8221; (ROFR) legislation under a different guise. This new bill proposes to impose bidding controls on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-judge-orders-pge-to-explain-role-in-dixie-fly-fires\/\" title=\"Federal judge orders PG&amp;E to explain role in Dixie, Fly fires\">electrical transmission lines<\/a>, shifting away from allowing incumbent companies to have exclusive bidding advantages. Critics, including Sen. Steve Nass, argue that the essence of the previous legislation remains unchanged despite minor adjustments. The bill, backed by various business groups and key Republican lawmakers, thus far lacks Senate sponsorship, raising further concerns among its opponents about its implications for market competition and costs to consumers.Additionally, some legislators are calling for Governor Tony Evers to address the bill&#8217;s provisions, especially given its potential impact on the state&#8217;s labor practices and construction workforce. The bill is set to be reviewed by the Energy and Utilities Committee before a possible Assembly hearing.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Several Wisconsin Republicans push back on updated energy bill<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2088435\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; In the day after the Wisconsin Energy Reform Act was introduced, several Republican lawmakers spoke out against the energy bill they believe is the failed right of first refusal legislation with a different name.<\/p>\n<p>The new bill would include bidding controls and restrictions for interstate and intrastate electrical transmission lines rather than simply allowing those companies already operating in Wisconsin to exclusively bid first before other companies can bid on the work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3376923\/lawmaker-wants-pop-banned-from-snap-benefits\/\">Lawmaker wants pop banned from SNAP benefits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3376924\/adams-allows-ice-to-open-office-at-rikers-island\/\">Adams allows ICE to open office at Rikers Island<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3376925\/legislation-targets-recovery-gaps-as-virginia-drug-cases-climb\/\">Legislation targets recovery gaps as Virginia drug cases climb<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Republicans like Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, say the bill adds small policy provisions while the meat of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-russia-working-together-to-evade-us-sanctions\/\" title=\"Iran, Russia Working Together To Evade US Sanctions\">proposal remains<\/a> the same.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The ability of politicians to rationalize deception and deceit to fool the public is on full display this week in the Wisconsin State Capitol,&rdquo; Nass said. &ldquo;ROFR, as embodied in AB 25, was declared dead by some of my colleagues even though they knew such a statement to be false, since the ROFR language was being transferred to a new piece of legislation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The right of first refusal legislation was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and State Rep. Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, and backed by business groups and businesses including Kwik Trip, Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, the Wisconsin Electrical Cooperative Association, the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, public power company WPPI Energy, the state&rsquo;s three major electricity transmission companies and all of the state&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">investor-owned power generating companies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The new version added supporters such as Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, who is the chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and Energy and Utilities chairman Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard.<\/p>\n<p>The bill will first head to the Energy and Utilities Committee before Speaker Robin Vos hopes to have it heard on the Assembly floor later this month.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, said that Gov. Tony Evers should speak out with his thoughts on the bill, especially since it involves the American Transmission Co., which Knodl said hires only union labor for multi-billion-dollar projects, meaning 70% of Wisconsin&rsquo;s construction workforce cannot participate in the work.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even more baffling? This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walz-says-abbott-has-a-point-on-border-crisis-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Walz says Abbott \u2018has a point\u2019 on border crisis - Washington Examiner\">bill doesn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t even have a Senate author,&rdquo; Knodl said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s like trying to fly a commercial jet without a copilot. Do you want to be aboard that plane? Yet, somehow, it&rsquo;s still cruising along.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And while all this is happening, Gov. Evers has gone into stealth mode on a key part of the bill: the right of first refusal. It&rsquo;s a mouthful, sure &ndash; but it could reshape Wisconsin&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-epa-pick-most-solar-energy-electric-vehicle-parts-come-from-china\/\" title=\"Biden EPA Pick: \u2018Most\u2019 Solar ..., Electric Vehicle Parts \u2018Come From China\u2019\">energy market<\/a> and squeeze out competition. That&rsquo;s a pretty big deal to stay quiet about.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Evers, meanwhile, has been on a trip in Germany with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. which included being at DMEA, a digital health trade show from Tuesday through Thursday in Berlin.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3292730\/all-executive-orders-actions-trump-first-day\/\"><strong>LIST: THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, said that she co-authored a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division to review the updated legislation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;ROFR 2.0 is moving through the process at an accelerated pace to create a false sense of urgency, when ROFR in other states is being reviewed by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division in other states and has raised concerns regarding their effect on competition and, most importantly, the costs to ratepayers,&rdquo; Goeben said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2088435\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2088435\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin Republicans oppose new energy bill, seeing it as a rebranded version of failed legislation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2422144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AP24305092390108.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[53197,3756,4124],"class_list":["post-2422143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-energy-bill","tag-republicans","tag-wisconsin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AP24305092390108.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2422143"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2422147,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2422143\/revisions\/2422147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2422144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2422143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2422143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2422143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}