State news: Nebraska, Minnesota assess potential nuclear construction

Studies, regulatory control, and legislation are among the items Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, and North Carolina tackled in the month of May regarding nuclear energy.

Nebraska: Four communities in Nebraska have been identified as the best landing spots for future small modular reactor facilities: Sutherland, Beatrice, Brownville, and Norfolk. A siting feasibility study concluded that these communities ranked above a dozen others on the basis of current infrastructure and siting criteria.

The study was done in two phases: the first identified 16 communities, and the second narrowed down the list by going in depth. According to the study, the technical evaluations done in the second phase were based on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's criteria for siting a nuclear power plant facility.

"During the second phase, our team was able to work with the sixteen communities who allowed us to come talk with the public about both this siting study and nuclear technology as a whole," said Nebraska Public Power District President and CEO Tom Kent. "Those conversations were positive across the state and are extremely valuable as we highlight the tremendous benefits nuclear power can provide to both a local community and the customers we serve."

The Nebraska Legislature allocated $1 million to the state's Department of Economic Development for the study. 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, led the evaluation of the sites at the behest of the Nebraska Public Power District and the state. The utility is the operator of the state's only nuclear power plant, Cooper, which is an 810-MWe boiling water reactor.

Minnesota: State lawmakers approved $500,000 in funding for a study that will look at the potential for new nuclear construction in Minnesota. The proposal was part of a larger end-of-legislative-session package the Minnesota Legislature passed on May 18, the last day of the session.

The study will examine various aspects of building new nuclear power plant facilities in the state, including impacts on affordability, reliability, and reducing the carbon footprint. Supporters of the bill hope this is the first step in lifting the state's moratorium on additional nuclear power facilities. Lifting the moratorium is seen as vital to meet a 2023 state law mandating Minnesota to be carbon free by 2040.

The legislative news was welcomed by the Minnesota Nuclear Alliance, a group of more than 60 organizations advocating for the expansion of nuclear power in the state.

"Keeping the lights on is not optional. Minnesota needs firm, reliable power that is available around the clock, and nuclear energy delivers exactly that," said Darrick Moe, president and CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, a key member of the alliance. "This study gives policymakers the information they need to understand how nuclear energy, a proven and carbon-free resource, can strengthen Minnesota's grid for the long term."

Indiana: The NRC is reviewing Indiana's request to become the 41st state to join the agency's Agreement State Program, which grants states regulatory control over the use of radioactive material under NRC oversight. The NRC must first vet the state's program and ensure it is adequate to protect public health and safety and will meet federal regulation requirements.

Indiana is seeking regulatory authority over the use of certain radioactive material used in medicine, industry, and research. According to an announcement about the request, the state would oversee the licensing, inspection, and enforcement for roughly 200 users ranging from hospitals to universities to industrial facilities. NRC would retain authority on about 20 licenses.

"This agreement would allow Indiana to take on a greater role in regulating radioactive materials while maintaining the strong safety and security standards the public expects," NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said.

The proposed agreement was published in the Federal Register on May 15. The NRC is seeking public comment on the proposed agreement through June 15. Comments may be made via the federal rulemaking website under Docket ID NRC-2026-1387.

North Carolina: Electric utilities in North Carolina would not be allowed to retire baseload power plants until the state's Utilities Commission signs off on the utility's construction plans for a nuclear power plant as the replacement, if a proposed bill in the state legislature becomes law. The state commission would have to issue a certificate of public necessity and convenience before a plant could be retired, according to the proposal. Furthermore, the bill would require amending North Carolina's 2050 carbon neutrality statute summary.

This proposed committee substitute for Senate Bill 730 was introduced in the state's General Assembly on May 21, replacing the original bill after it was discussed in a May 20 House Energy and Public Utilities Committee hearing. The proposal also includes language on the siting and operation of data centers.