States are taking steps to encourage nuclear power development, as lawmakers seek to meet an enhanced energy demand, hit climate goals and answer the call for more domestic energy production.
Lawmakers in at least 16 states considered nuclear legislation during this session, which included bills to study nuclear power development, declare nuclear power a clean energy source, remove moratoriums, and provide incentives.
More than 300 nuclear-related bills were introduced so far this year — which is “a bit more than last year,” about 100 more than 2023, and 200 more than 2022, according to Christine Csizmadia, senior director for state governmental affairs and advocacy at the Nuclear Energy Institute.
“With the growing demand [for power] and the pressure to solve the climate crisis, nuclear power is perfectly positioned to tackle these problems,” Csizmadia said in an interview last week, as industry officials, regulators and lawmakers met in Washington, D.C., for NEI’s annual policy conference.
Demand for electricity is projected to rise significantly in the next five years, driven by artificial intelligence and increased electrification of several sectors of the economy.
The states that considered nuclear legislation this year include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
Several of the bills have been signed into law.
Indiana became the first state to enact a law that created a 20% tax credit for small modular reactor manufacturers. Small modular reactors are advanced nuclear reactors that have about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear reactors but a significantly smaller footprint. The measure would allow utilities to recover development costs from ratepayers.
A Montana law allows for uranium enrichment and processing facilities to be built in the state. If a facility is built, it would be only the second location in the nation, along with New Mexico, that can enrich uranium. Tennessee announced plans last year to host an enrichment facility.
Legislation was also passed in Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, North Dakota and Utah, and is still pending in Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
Beyond those bills, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming recently agreed to align their energy policies, particularly on nuclear power. A measure pending in Wisconsin would create a nuclear power summit board to promote and host a nuclear power summit in Madison.
States are eagerly monitoring each other for nuclear policy, according to Molly Cripps, director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs, and Floyd McKissick, who serves on the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
“We’re watching to see: What are they doing?” Cripps said at the conference. “Who has come up with something quite innovative that we want to jump in with and say, ‘Hey, can we partner with you on this? Or, we need to join a consortium together.’”
Republicans in Washington, D.C., are also pushing an expansion in nuclear power generation.
President Trump signed executive orders last week to advance the nuclear industry, including one calling on the Department of Energy to amend regulations to have 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030 and one to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission review process to complete the applications in 18 months.
Speaking at the conference, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he is “all-in on nuclear and willing to put my hand on the scale and do everything I can to nudge and encourage the development of it.” Thanks in part to push by Wright, nuclear received a boost in the massive tax package the U.S. House passed Thursday, with E&E News calling the energy source “a big winner”
“I’m in favor of every nudge, every incentive we can give for the federal government to restart this industry,” Wright said.