Reaction to closure of Kewaunee nuclear plant - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

KEWAUNEE (WKOW) -- The Kewaunee Power Station will close next year. The announcement by Dominion Resources Inc. was made Monday.

Local officials say losing the Kewaunee nuclear power plant will have a major impact on the area's economic landscape.

Kewaunee County Administrator Edward Dorner says the plant is one of the county's largest employers with about 400 workers. Dorner says the county will also lose an annual $900,000 utility tax payment from the state when the plant closes in the second quarter of 2013.

The Virginia-based energy company says it hasn't been able to find a buyer for the nuclear plant and plans to close it in the second quarter of next year.

Gov. Scott Walker released the following statement regarding the closing announcement:

"The proposed closing at the Kewaunee Power Station highlights the need to decrease unnecessary federal regulations slowing the process for companies, like Dominion, to take advantage of economies of scale and keep their businesses profitable and open. 

"Twice last year, we reached out to the federal government to encourage them to get cumbersome EPA regulations out of the way of job creators.  I will continue to push for changes that can protect jobs."