LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – Governor Tony Evers visited The Nature Place in La Crosse Tuesday, touring the facility and highlighting its clean energy efforts.

Evers emphasized the importance of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, pointing to local projects in La Crosse as more impactful than what he called the “drill, baby, drill” focus in Washington.

The Nature Place’s 120-panel solar array has already saved the organization thousands of dollars and is part of the state’s broader push toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

Evers said nuclear energy will also play a key role in reaching that goal.

“I think we’re making real good progress, and in addition I believe that issues around nuclear energy are going to be, probably, the thing that gets us over the hump and is going to be a lot of really good things going on as it relates to fusion energy,” Evers said.

He added that he is hopeful Wisconsin can reach that goal by 2050, acknowledging there will be challenges but that progress will come one step at a time.