Five states named Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus finalists

Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah are the finalists to potentially host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, the Department of Energy announced today.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has signed memorandums of understanding with the five states to continue exploring opportunities to host these campuses, envisioned as federal-state partnerships to support work across the nuclear fuel life cycle, with a primary focus on fuel fabrication, enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing or recycling, separations, and radioactive waste management.

Interested states had until April 1 to respond to a request for information that was issued in January. According to DOE, the states had to submit clear statements of interest and feedback on the structure of proposed campuses. Each state was asked to outline how a campus would spur workforce development, infrastructure investment, economic diversification, and technology leadership, as well as describe the scope of activities they envisioned hosting.

In the run-up to the April 1 deadline, it was unclear exactly how many states had submitted information to DOE and expressed interest. Today's announcement, however, confirmed the count.

"I'm pleased to announce that after reviewing 28 applications from 26 states, the Energy Department has selected five initial contenders to further explore building Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses," Wright said in the announcement. "These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America's nuclear renaissance. The innovative concept is a direct result of President Trump's leadership and ambitious directives to restore the domestic nuclear fuel cycle and get America's nuclear industry growing again."

According to the DOE, the proposed campuses could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue, and create nearly 25,000 jobs. While the primary focus of the campuses would be fuel cycle activities, they also could become hosts to new reactors, advanced manufacturing, and data centers.

According to the DOE, states that choose to host a campus will sign hosting agreements with the federal agency at a later date.

The finalists react: All five governors of the finalist states welcomed the news. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Idaho Gov. Brad Little touted their states' respective roles in the history and continued development of nuclear energy and technology.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a Nuclear Lifestyle Innovation Campus would be significant for the state's Operation Gigawatt, which calls for doubling Utah's energy production by 2034.

Louisiana "has a long and proud history of energy innovation, and we are ready to lead the next era of nuclear energy," said Gov. Jeff Landry.

Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt spoke on his state's role in energy production, which to date has not included nuclear energy. "Oklahoma has always been the leader in energy production and innovation, from the oil boom of the early 1900s to the shale revolution in mid-2000s," said Stitt. "Today marks a new frontier-the chance to add nuclear to our energy abundance agenda."

ANS responds: The American Nuclear Society also weighed in on the DOE announcement, with ANS president Mark Peters congratulating the finalists. "This is an important step in evaluating how the United States can strengthen its nuclear fuel cycle and expand domestic nuclear capabilities," he said. "ANS and its members stand ready to help state leaders and local communities address the technical questions ahead."

"A Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus has the potential to advance two important national objectives: strengthening America's nuclear fuel infrastructure and improving long-term management options for used nuclear fuel," added ANS CEO Craig Piercy. "We are encouraged to see a cooperative, voluntary process involving the federal government, states, Tribal nations, local communities, and other stakeholders."