La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor – Genoa, WI
N 43° 34.033 W 091° 13.734
15T E 643025 N 4825330
This historical marker is located at a little pullover spot on the Great River Road near Genoa.
Waymark Code: WMP312
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 06/20/2015
Views: 3
This historical marker is located at a little pullover spot on the Great River Road near Genoa. It is across from Lock and Dam #8 and has a companion marker “Dams of the Mississippi” just a few feet away. The text reads:
La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor
In 1961, the Joint Congressional Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) approved Dairyland Power Cooperative's proposal to construct and operate Wisconsin's first nuclear-fueled power plant. This reactor was part of a pilot program to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of nuclear reactors for rural electric cooperatives and small utilities.
The Allis-Chalmers Company of West Allis began constructing the La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor in 1963.
On July 11, 1967, at 7:39 p.m., the reactor achieved its first sustained chain reaction, ushering both Wisconsin and cooperative electrification into the nuclear age. The reactor attained full-powered operation on August 1, 1969. After several modifications and tests, inspectors declared the reactor commercially operational on February 1, 1971, with a rated capacity of 50 megawatts.
Dairyland acquired full ownership of the facility from the AEC in August 1973, but ceased reactor operations on April 30, 1987, due to economic conditions. Dairyland currently operates a coal-fired power plant on this site.
Erected 2008 by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
County: Vernon
Location: Wayside
MarkerID: 223
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