06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 07:55
Mount Taylor, viewed from the southeast near Cubero, N.M., is sacred ground to the Navajo Nation and other tribes. The Roca Honda uranium mining project, which is fast-tracked for federal permitting, is located near the mountain. (Jesse Stephens/Getty Images)
As the United States increasingly looks to expand reliable baseload energy sources, nuclear power is emerging as an important part of the mix. This is especially true in states trying to meet growing energy demands driven largely by artificial intelligence and data centers. In many cases, states are setting their sights on small modular reactors, or SMRs, which have a smaller physical footprint compared with large reactors and can potentially come online sooner.
These developments mean the U.S. will need a reliable supply of uranium, a key element in the production of nuclear fuel. With uranium exports from Russia, one of the main suppliers of the mineral to the U.S., diminished by the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. is seeking alternative sources of uranium for its 54 reactors. The developments also have sparked a resurgence in plans to mine U.S. uranium.
Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to promote nuclear energy initiatives, potentially offering states and tribes access to clean, reliable power with smaller and more adaptable reactors. SMRs can be located at various sites, including repurposed fossil fuel plants, which can offer flexibility in energy production.
For their part, states are enacting legislation to support the advancement of nuclear energy by lifting moratoriums and establishing specific siting requirements. Illinois (HB 2473; 2023-24) ended a 36-year moratorium on nuclear reactors and paved the way for SMRs. Connecticut (HB 5202; 2022) created an exemption allowing new nuclear facilities at Millstone Nuclear Power Station, bypassing state restrictions. A later measure (SB 385; 2024) reaffirmed Millstone as an approved site and mandated renewable power purchases if zero-carbon contracts are needed.
At the federal level, U.S. Rep. John McGuire of Virginia introduced the Uranium for Energy Independence Act of 2025, which adds uranium to the U.S. Geologic Survey's list of critical minerals. Uranium is found in large quantities in Western states, often on or near Native American lands. As efforts to increase uranium mining gain traction, states and tribes face the challenge of balancing economic growth spurred by mining with environmental and health concerns.
Previous U.S. uranium production efforts left behind a toxic legacy that still affects both states and Native American tribes, including the Navajo Nation. Earlier this year, Energy Fuels, which specializes in uranium mining, struck an agreement with the Navajo Nation allowing the company to transport uranium ore through tribal lands to the White Mesa Mill, located in Utah. There's also the possibility that uranium mining could commence at the Roca Honda and La Jara Mesa sites in western New Mexico.
These activities are raising concerns for both states and tribes. According to Maslyn Locke of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, the Roca Honda and La Jara Mesa mines have been fast-tracked for federal permitting. Roca Honda is located near Mount Taylor, which is sacred ground to the Navajo Nation and other tribes. New Mexico has indicated it will review any efforts to fast-track mining in the state.
As the nation seeks to bolster its nuclear energy capabilities, including the development of SMRs and uranium mining activities, policymakers will consider the legacy of nuclear energy and uranium mining efforts, particularly the health and environmental impacts on Native American tribes. Understanding this legacy will better position states and tribes to find the balance between economic growth and environmental and cultural protection.
Tansey Moore is a policy specialist in NCSL's Environment, Energy and Transportation Program.