Where Is Nuclear Energy Policy in the States?

While everyone was focused on the top of the ticket last November, there were more than 5,000 state legislative seats up for election and 11 governors. Those returning to office and newly-elected state officials mean business—nuclear business. The National Conference of State Legislatures says there are over 100,000 bills introduced every year, and this year more than 300 nuclear bills have been introduced. Last year, 25 states took action to support nuclear.

So, what is happening in the states so far this year? Every state in the United States is looking at nuclear with a new perspective to help meet national security, reliability, economic, and clean generation goals.

States are still on track with the policy trends I’ve identified previously. States are developing task forces, working groups, and commissions to study nuclear; states are recognizing nuclear as a clean generation source; and states are removing barriers and incentivizing nuclear. Some other consistent policy trends we’re seeing that will impact nuclear include permitting reform, workforce development, data center regulation, and fusion.  

Big Action States  

• Hats off to Indiana for passing the first nuclear manufacturing tax credit at 20% to attract nuclear business. Alongside defining nuclear as clean energy and financially incentivizing nuclear, Indiana has had a pro-nuclear year at the direction of Governor Braun. 
• Governor Cox of Utah is making his mark in nuclear history. Cox’s Operation Gigawatt sets a clear agenda for the state that allowed for the legislature to pass bills setting up a nuclear commission and $10 million in the budget for nuclear projects. The Governor then signed 5 agreements to launch a nuclear ecosystem with the state of Wyoming, the state of Idaho, Idaho National Lab, and nuclear companies Energy Solutions, Holtec, and NuCube.
• After several years trying to get a “nuclear is clean” bill over the finish line in Colorado,  the bill finally passed thanks to bipartisan leadership and support. New Hampshire similarly passed a “nuclear is clean” measure they have been debating for several years. 
• Uniquely, the Texas Legislature meets every other year, so every session is jam-packed. Their final nuclear package included bills authorizing a $350 million investment in nuclear projects, establishing a nuclear office under the Governor, workforce development initiatives, and uranium mining. Additionally, Texas is providing $120 million  to Texas Tech University to develop an SMR with Natura Resources and Abilene Christian University.  All of this, along with a bill furthering their position on an interim storage facility. 
• Tennessee has been leading on nuclear for some time and this session was no different. Governor Lee secured more than $90 million in addition to the $60 million already invested by the state. The 2025 proposal includes $50 million for Clinch River, funds for R&D, and $10 million for workforce development. There is also $20 million to create a federal grant-matching fund that nuclear is eligible to use.  
• With a new Governor and new legislative leaders, North Carolina is working on moving forward with their decarbonization agenda from 2021. The Legislature passed a measure to further incentivize clean energy projects, but Governor Stein has vetoed the measure over concern for the bill’s impacts.   
• Thanks to Governor Hochul, New York is looking at the nuclear option. The NYSERDA Blueprint for Advanced Energy Technologies and directive from the Governor to the New York Authority provide a clear path for next steps. Although there is no timeline for the project, the state is working on a nuclear master plan to be released next year. They have previously passed a 100% decarbonization by 2040 goal  with a 70% by 2030 milestone, which they are at risk of missing without scaling up nuclear. 

Keeping It Going

• The Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub was awarded $1.2 million to advance nuclear research and workforce training in the state. The nonprofit will use some of that funding to begin planning the construction of both the Virginia Research and Education Reactor Facility and the Virginia Center for Nuclear Materials and Reliability.
• Arkansas has enjoyed consistent nuclear support from stakeholders across the board. This year they set up a nuclear working group to study opportunities in innovation and workforce. 
• Mississippi and Louisiana are on tap to host data centers, so they will likely turn to nuclear. Although they have welcoming policy landscapes, Mississippi’s bill to create a training academy with the local high school is a new, innovative idea. Louisiana's nuclear study from the Public Service Commission  is a start, and the Legislature passed legislation to study nuclear, recognizing nuclear as green, along with permitting reform for nuclear. 
• Kentucky is on track. They passed a “nuclear is clean” bill with bipartisan endorsement and disbursed funds to support the work of the permanent Nuclear Authority. 
• Nebraska is undertaking site identification, with Phase I identifying 14 potential communities and the upcoming Phase 2 narrowing down a list of sites. 
• There is a national hunger to complete the V.C. Summer project (two large reactors whose construction was paused in 2017) , and the South Carolina legislature has been supportive by resolution to explore completion.
• Washington added more flexibility for electricity generators to enter into joint agreements, which will enable more potential new nuclear. 
• Watch out for the Wisconsin global summit being planned after a study bill and a bill to develop the summit passed their legislature and was signed by Governor Evers.
• Maryland is growing their nuclear dialogue by expanding procurement for new nuclear, but expect more from Maryland in future sessions.

New to Nuclear

• Oklahoma will benefit from nuclear when they are ready to deploy. The state legislature has discussed nuclear bills for years and finally passed a study bill to continue exploring. 
• A microreactor could be the right fit for Hawaii’s unique landscape—that’s why legislators agreed to study nuclear and identify opportunities for the technology. 
• Delaware legislators also agreed it is time to study nuclear. 
• Rhode Island passed agreements to allow nuclear procurement, a first move while they are still looking at repealing their moratorium. 
• North Dakota has been considering nuclear for years, and this year put $300,000 behind a nuclear study. 
• Montana has previously made strides by repealing their moratorium, but this year they endorsed bills to pursue fuel enrichment and storage. 

Moratoriums 

• Excitingly, Connecticut further repealed their moratorium to allow for nuclear in communities that consent to a facility. Connecticut is also providing $5 million as a site readiness fund. Bills to repeal moratoriums were introduced in Illinois, removing the 300 megawatt cap.  
• Minnesota, Maine, Rhode Island and Oregon have considered multiple nuclear exploration bills, but all these bills have stalled.   

Next Up for Nuclear

• The Eielson Air Force microreactor project is making progress in Alaska. 
• The TerraPower project in Kemmerer, Wyoming broke ground last year and despite some more nuclear incentive bills stalling this session, the Legislature is committed to investigating the measures in interim hearings.  
• Florida released the nuclear study directed from legislation last year and is positioned for the next step. 
• Missouri now allows cost recovery based on the public utility commission’s approval, which is a necessary indicator for capital investments like new nuclear. 
• Kansas and South Dakota both discussed nuclear, but no measures advanced this session. 
• Arizona was able to pass a nuclear permitting reform bill that Governor Hobbes vetoed, citing lack of technology readiness.  However, Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP), and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) announced they will be working together to explore adding nuclear generation in Arizona.
• New Jersey has some nuclear bills, including a study which is moving forward. 
• Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming signed a joint agreement to advance nuclear deployment in the western region. 
• For the first time, leaders in Vermont introduced nuclear legislation, but they did not advance. 

National Organizations  

• Meanwhile, national organizations of state officials have endorsed nuclear exploration. The National Governors Association is hosting in-state nuclear retreats. The National Conference of State Legislatures engages legislators with a Nuclear Legislative Working Group. The National Association of State Officials launched an Early Mover program and continues a collaboration with NARUC. The U.S. Conference of Mayors took their first action on nuclear ever, passing a resolution recognizing workforce and economic benefits of nuclear.  And the Western Governors Association Chair, Governor Cox, is leading an energy abundance in the West initiative on nuclear. 

The Rest of 2025

• With bipartisan federal endorsements of nuclear energy, states are more empowered than ever to take action and welcome nuclear into their communities. Seven states are still in session, so we’re not done yet—watch out for Michigan and Pennsylvania and what could come from their positive nuclear bills under consideration.