Policy Activity
Federal Updates
SCOTUS Examining Nuclear Waste Storage
The Supreme Court of the United States is currently hearing arguments regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's authority to issue interim storage facility licenses as granted by Congress. After the NRC issued a temporary storage facility for nuclear waste in 2021 to Interim Storage Partners in Texas, the state and some oil industry stakeholders opposed the facility and argued that the NRC does not have the authority to issue a license without state approval. SCOTUS is now deciding if the NRC does have such authority. A link to the proceedings and related documents can be found on the Supreme Court's website.
State Legislation Updates
Arizona HB 2774 (passed in House) would allow industrial users to construct small modular reactors at the site of their facilities without a certification of environmental compatibility. SMRs would also be exempt from local zoning restrictions if located at a facility in a county with a population under 500,000.
Colorado HB 1040 (passed in House) would add nuclear to the state's definition of clean energy, allowing nuclear generation to qualify as a resource in the state's 2050 clean energy target.
Hawaii HCR 32 requests that the University of Hawaii conduct a study evaluating the viability of nuclear energy development in the state. Hawaii currently bans nuclear construction without a two-thirds vote in the state House and Senate. Hawaii SCR 122 SCR 122 requests the state commit to a nuclear-free future, maintaining the ban on nuclear.
Illinois SB 1527 amends the Public Utilities Act by removing provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity until the U.S. has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste. The Public Utilities Act currently requires a spent nuclear fuel waste facility for construction of reactors over this size.
Kansas SB 274 (introduced) would require the state corporation commission to hire a consulting firm to conduct a technical and legal feasibility study on new nuclear generation in the state and allocates $375,000 to support the study.
Montana HB 623 (passed in House) would add language to the state's requirements for spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. Additional requirements for siting include location approval by a majority of county electors representing a given location or approval by a majority of tribal electors if the site is within 50 miles of a tribal reservation.
Montana HB 696 (passed in House) would establish legislative approval of siting uranium conversion and enrichment facilities in the state.
Texas SB 2060 (introduced) would establish the Texas Advanced Nuclear Deployment Office with the office of the governor to strategically plan to expand the state's nuclear programming and advance the deployment of nuclear energy resources in the state.
Stay up to date on these bills and more with NCSL's 50-state bill tracking database. Filter by topics like nuclear, renewable energy, workforce and more.
Nuclear Power Plants and Infrastructure
Last Energy Announces Texas Project
Microreactor developer Last Energy announced plans to construct a fleet of reactors to power data centers in Texas. The site, located in Haskell County, will host 30 microreactors. Last Energy currently has contracts to deliver microreactors in Europe, many of which will also power data centers. The Texas site will serve both the grid and private industry users behind the meter, providing power directly to users. The company's first microreactor is set to be deployed in the U.K. in 2027.
NRC Completes Draft TerraPower Safety Evaluation
TerraPower's Natrium Reactor Demonstration Project has reached an NRC milestone this month, receiving positive news as the agency completed its draft safety evaluation ahead of schedule. The NRC is set to complete a final safety evaluation and environmental review by mid-2026. The Natrium Reactor Demonstration Project is part of the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project, a cost-share program to advanced modern reactor technology in the U.S.
Operations and Partnerships
Hyundai to Partner with Holtec for Palisades
Holtec, the owner of the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan, has announced a partnership with Hyundai Engineering to construct two SMRs at the plant upon its reopening. The SMRs will produce a total of 10 gigawatts at the Palisades plant in addition to the plant's existing nuclear reactor. Holtec has titled the project Mission 2030 with an aim to be the first in the U.S. to deploy SMRs. The company aims to have the existing reactor licensed and restarted before the SMRs are deployed, with some reporting indicating that could be as early as end of 2025.
Research and Technology
NC State and Electric Power Research Institute Collaborate on Workforce
North Carolina State University and the Electric Power Research Institute have received $500,000 to assess the state's workforce challenges and needs. North Carolina is home to five nuclear plants but sees workforce challenges as generations shift, like many areas in the energy sector. The state is also preparing for the unique changes that new types of reactors will bring, requiring a workforce with new knowledge to match advanced nuclear technology. The grant was awarded by The North Carolina Collaboratory, a program created by the legislature in 2016 for research that is applicable to state and local government.
Other News
NRC Announces Plan to Cut Advanced Reactor Fees
The NRC has proposed multiple cuts to its hourly fees to decrease the overall costs of advanced reactor deployment. These fees are paid to the NRC during licensing and inspection processes. The agency has proposed a rate of $146 per hour for advanced reactor projects, compared to its current fee of $317 per hour. This reduction would dramatically reduce costs for applicants, reducing barriers for the many first-of-kind projects in development across the country. The reduced fee would also apply to pre-applicants who are in the early stages of projects. This effort is in addition to ongoing efforts at the agency to update its practices to suit advanced reactors as the U.S. will move away from one-time designs and construction projects. The industry has advocated for more efficient licensing processes, both in cost and time as the technology advances.
WIPP Plant Contractor Avoids Closure
Federal administrators reversed their recent decision to include the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's Carlsbad, N.M., management office on a list of leases to be revoked. The list was published earlier in March, but received pushback from New Mexico officials who underscored the vital role the operations office plays in WIPP. The office oversees employees who directly manage and work at WIPP and with the nuclear waste housed there. Federal administrators have confirmed the office is no longer at risk of losing its lease.