DOJ INVESTIGATION CONCLUDES NO EVIDENCE FOUND LINKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO SALE OF KEWAUNEE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Justice has closed an investigation into the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's (PSC) decision to approve the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, determining no evidence was found linking campaign donations to Governor Doyle to the PSC's decision.

In November 2004, the PSC denied an application by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Wisconsin Power and Light Company to sell the plant to a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, Inc., a Virginia-based utility. In March 2005, after the utilities made several changes to their application, the PSC unanimously approved the sale.

In late 2005, the DOJ commenced an investigation to determine whether the Office of Governor Doyle improperly influenced the PSC in its deliberations about the Kewaunee matter. Employees from the interested utilities donated money to the Doyle campaign.

"After a thorough investigation," said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, "we have not found any evidence linking campaign donations to Governor Doyle to the PSC decision to approve the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. Nor did we find any evidence that the Governor's Office improperly influenced the PSC decision in any way."