News Reactor | March 2026

News Reactor | March 2026

Policy Activity

State Legislation Updates

NCSL has tracked over 150 bills on nuclear energy and nuclear fuel management so far in 2026. Below is a sample of some of the legislation with recent activity this year:

Alabama House Joint Resolution 242 (introduced) urges the state and relevant organizations to recognize the value and potential opportunities involving used nuclear fuel, including for additional energy applications. The resolution mentions the Energy Department's request for information regarding the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.

Arizona HB 2795 (passed in House) would limit local government authority over SMR construction, prohibiting counties from blocking SMR construction projects that have received early site permits and design certification. Additionally, Arizona HB 2456 (passed in House) would limit local government authority over SMR and high-load project co-location arrangements, including industrial sites and data centers. The bill requires SMR operators to host at least one public comment session for potential project sites.

California AB 2647 (scheduled for hearing March 23) would lift the state's blanket moratorium on new construction to allow reactors defined as advanced reactors, including fission and fusion. The state defines an advanced reactor as a reactor that has improved advancements compared to a generation II reactor and has a design license approved by the NRC on or after Jan. 1, 2005. The state currently has one nuclear power plant.

Connecticut SB 5336 (in committee) would require the state to study the labor and education demands related to the nuclear industry and recommend policies to address the findings. The recommendations must address methods to meet the labor demand; potential collaborations or initiatives between federal agencies, higher education, nonprofits and businesses; and any other strategies to promote the development of skilled labor in the state's nuclear industry. The recommendations are due by Feb. 1, 2028.

Idaho Senate Concurrent Resolution 120 (passed in Senate) encourages the expansion of used nuclear fuel reprocessing activities in the state, including research, demonstration and industrial projects. The resolution argues that reprocessing activities are allowable, as the material is not for permanent storage and modern reprocessing technology is aligned with Idaho's existing work and nuclear goals.

Oregon HB 4046 (in committee) would require the state Department of Energy to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy. The state currently has a moratorium on new nuclear construction and has no operating nuclear power plants. The study will address safety considerations, emergency preparedness, financial feasibility and outlook, workforce benefits, used fuel disposal options, advantages of nuclear, and potential use cases, among other factors. The bill would require collaboration with other state entities and tribes in addition to public comment periods.

Utah SB 135 (enrolled, to governor) establishes the state Office of Energy Development's jurisdiction over nuclear fuel reprocessing in the state. It also requires the Utah Energy Council to provide guidance on potential used nuclear fuel reprocessing projects and offer recommendations for facility development. Additionally, the bill requires the state to assess existing laws to identify factors that could limit the state's ability to host a nuclear innovation campus in response to the Department of Energy's 2026 request for information on such projects.

Nuclear Power Plants and Infrastructure

NRC Approves TerraPower Construction Permit for Wyoming Reactor

TerraPower has received the nation's first commercial advanced reactor permit for its Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyo. The NRC issued the permit after a roughly two-year review process. The company has been preparing the site since 2024 but may now begin construction. TerraPower must still pass reactor inspections, and obtain design approval and an operating license, before it can operate the reactor. The company hopes to deliver power by the early 2030s.

Federal Government Considers Indian Point Reopening; State Opposes

After recent federal discussion to potentially reopen the Indian Point nuclear power plant north of New York City, the state's governor, Kathy Hochul, said that though the state is looking to expand nuclear, it is not interested in reopening the facility. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently held a press conference at the facility. Hochul is an active proponent of nuclear energy and included nuclear goals in a recent State of the State address. However, she has stated that opening Indian Point is not an option. Indian Point shuttered its reactor units in 2020 and 2021, when Holtec bought it from Entergy. Holtec also acquired Michigan's Palisades facility, which is set to become the first nuclear plant in U.S. history to be reopened.

Operations and Partnerships

DOE and INL Initiate the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad

The National Reactor Innovation Center and the DOE recently announced an initiative to help private nuclear developers quickly develop new projects. The Nuclear Energy Launch Pad site will offer about 900 square miles of land for the development of plots for new projects on a variety of nuclear cycle technologies, including fuel cycle technology and reactors, according to the Idaho National Lab. By using federal facilities and land, developers can avoid some of the licensing and permitting processes that they would be required to complete on private commercial sites. Additionally, developers can use the existing resources, infrastructure, services and expertise of INL staff. The program will accept applications for projects yearly with the first round of applications for plots opening this year.

Oklo and Centrus Considering HALEU Collaboration in Ohio

Oklo and Centrus have announced a potential new joint venture in deconversion for HALEU and advanced fuel technology in Pike County, Ohio. Centrus currently operates an enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio, while Oklo currently has a 1.2 gigawatt clean energy campus planned in the area to power facilities owned by Meta. According to the companies, the collaboration and co-location of the deconversion facility with the existing enrichment facility would create efficiency by allowing both companies to share one deconversion facility. Additionally, co-location removes the need to ship material from one facility to another. The companies are now exploring regulatory feasibility and potential federal support for the joint venture.

Research and Technology

Washington Colleges Collaborate to Open Reactor Control Room Simulator

The Washington State University Tri-Cities Institute for Northwest Energy Futures launched a new SMR control room simulator in partnership with Energy Northwest and Columbia Basin College. The simulator will model the operations of X-Energy's Xe-100 SMR. X-Energy currently has plans to build SMRs in the state to power Amazon facilities and data centers. WSU students and the partnering organizations will have access to the simulator for training and education. According to WSU, the facility will also be used for public engagement.

Other News

Southern Co. Receives Major DOE Loan

The Department of Energy has issued the largest loan in its history to Southern Co. and its subsidiaries to address energy and grid reliability in Alabama and Georgia. The $26.5 billion loan package will support both new gas generation and grid enhancements, including hydropower, battery storage and distribution system infrastructure. Georgia Power, a Southern Co. subsidiary, previously faced challenges as cost overruns during the construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4 resulted in ratepayer increases, leading to public frustrations. The new DOE loan aims to help the companies make necessary reliability upgrades without additional ratepayer strain.