DuPont Barksdale Works Study Proposal
The short of it:
9/14/26: Any rumors of current plans for a nuclear or AI center at the Barksdale/DuPont site are false, rumors of a proposal document are true. I did have a long conversation with Mr Gruhl on 9/14/26, and he cleared up much of this. He has written a proposal for the State of Wisconsin to evaluate the privately owned, former Barksdale/DuPont site for a nuclear-powered AI facility, as part of their Nuclear Siting Study. He did it on his own, without any outside urging. The property owners were unaware of his proposal. A meeting to discuss this proposal with the community will probably be in October at the Washburn Forward Together group meeting. I'll try to update when & where the meeting is, but you can also see information on the Washburn, WI Library Facebook page.
I have updated information in bold italics on my original 9/13/26 post:
These are some of documents I was sent re: proposal by Edward Gruhl to evaluate former DuPont Barksdale Works as advanced-nuclear, data-center, and remediation site. I originally posted JPEGs to Facebook so that more people could see them, but it is very hard to read them, so I am hosting the PDF on my website here.
Apparently, the proposal was originally set to be discussed at the September 15th Washburn Forward Together group meeting at the Washburn, WI Library. It was cancelled due to the amount of people interested, and as of 9/13/2026 there has not been a rescheduled date.
Important points:
- This seems to be a proposal by one person to ask for a study. There does not seem to be any private company behind this proposal, nor any current plans. It is by one person - Ed - with his AI chatbot research assistant.
- The owners of the former DuPont/Barksdale site did not seem to have any idea Ed Gruhl was proposing it. They did not.
- I cannot tell if this has already been sent to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. It has not. He is waiting for the community meeting.
- There is a current Wisconsin Nuclear Energy Siting Study – UW–Madison
- I do not know if Washburn Forward Together was simply having him speak at their meeting, or they were connected to the proposal. They were only hosting him.
- I do NOT know when or where the meeting will be rescheduled. I am still trying to figure out where to find that information. It will possibly be in October.
- I have zero connection to any of these groups; however, people send me things to post to my Facebook accounts occasionally. This is one of those things. I always vet the information as much as I can. I have other documents that are vehemently opposed to this however I do not have permission to publish the private correspondence. I will wait to put them up here or on my Facebook until I hear back.
- You can read the PDF of one iteration of the proposal by Edward Gruhl to evaluate former DuPont Barksdale Works as advanced-nuclear, data-center, and remediation site here: PDF
- If you have any clarifications on any of this, please email me at [email protected]
To be VERY clear, I am not trying to create panic by bringing these things to light. Rumors do nothing but distract us. In my opinion, it is EXTREMELY important to find the facts so that we can continue to be good neighbors to each other and stewards of Lake Superior.
With respect and love for Lake Superior,
Hannah Stonehouse Floberg AKA Hannah Stonehouse Hudson
