Indiana Launches Advanced Nuclear Ready Community Program

Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced the launch of the Indiana Advanced Nuclear Ready Community program, a new initiative from the Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) designed to help counties and regions prepare for small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced nuclear development. The program establishes a three-tier designation framework through which communities can demonstrate progress on regulatory, workforce, and infrastructure readiness, backed by a digital toolkit of resources and templates to guide local officials through the qualification process.

The initiative aims to reduce risk for developers and accelerate project timelines by prioritizing community engagement and site assessment work. Any Indiana county or region, working with its constituent cities and towns, is eligible to apply, with designation criteria spanning community education and support, site characteristics, workforce and education readiness, and regulatory and governance readiness. Local leaders are encouraged to consult with OED for technical assistance ahead of a formal application, with additional details available on the OED website at https://www.in.gov/oed/indianas-energy-policy/nuclear-ready/.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development co-chairs the NASEO Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, which advances next generation nuclear technologies.