New Jersey moves on from de facto nuclear moratorium

New Jersey has become the latest state to lift a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants, with Gov. Mikie Sherrill signing new legislation Wednesday with the state's two nuclear power plants serving as the backdrop.

The legislation, S. 3870/A. 4528, allows the commissioner of the state's Department of Environmental Protection to approve permits for the construction and operation of new nuclear facilities "based on safe, [Nuclear Regulatory Commission]-compliant waste storage." Prior to this bill, New Jersey law practically banned such construction, because the state's Coastal Area Facility Review Act required an approved method from the NRC for radioactive waste disposal that was outdated and could not be met.

This created a de facto moratorium on new nuclear construction in New Jersey that has been in place since the 1970s.

"For costs to come down, we need more energy supply. New Jersey is well-positioned to be a leader in next-generation nuclear energy to help bring that supply, and we are open for business," said Sherrill. "By lifting outdated barriers and bringing together leaders across government, industry, and labor, we're setting the stage for our state to pursue new advanced nuclear power. This will help New Jersey secure a stronger, cleaner, more affordable, and reliable energy future-while keeping the state at the forefront of innovation, job creation, and economic growth."

New Jersey is the second state to lift its moratorium in 2026, following Illinois. Other states like California and Minnesota are considering doing the same.

Task force launch: Along with the signing, Sherrill announced the launch of the state's Nuclear Task Force, which will gather government, industry, environment, and labor officials to explore opportunities in new nuclear endeavors. Work will be organized across five focus areas: financing, supply chains and technology development, workforce growth and training, regulatory and permitting framework, and public trust and confidence.

According to the announcement, Sherrill toured the Salem nuclear power plant and met with IBEW workers on site for a Unit 2 refueling outage. Salem is one of two operating nuclear plant facilities in New Jersey; the other, Hope Creek, is co-located with Salem in Hancocks Bridge, N.J. Hope Creek is home to one 1,172-MWe boiling water reactor, while Salem holds two pressurized water reactors-the 1,146-MWe Unit 1 and the 1,139-MWe Unit 2. Together, the two facilities produce more than 40 percent of the state's electricity.

Quotables: Several officials endorsed the lifting of the moratorium.

"Nuclear power can play a critical role in keeping energy affordable, and this bill will allow our state to utilize this energy source by updating the permitting framework to safely build and maintain new nuclear facilities," said U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.).

"I look forward to working with Gov. Sherrill as we continue to tackle New Jersey's energy crisis and am excited that we are moving closer to building more nuclear generation in our state because it has proven to be a stable and reliable carbon neutral energy source that will help us bridge the gap between what we generate and use," said Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, (D., 14th Dist.).

"By removing unnecessary red tape while maintaining rigorous safety standards, this legislation opens the door to reliable, large-scale, emissions-free power that will help stabilize and ultimately lower energy costs for residents and businesses," said Michael Egenton, executive vice president of government relations at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. "Just as importantly, it positions New Jersey to meet the growing energy demands of a rapidly evolving economy-one increasingly driven by advanced manufacturing, data infrastructure, and the expansion of technologies that depend on consistent, affordable electricity."