Core Sector: Electricity/Energy

Nuclear Energy

Given technological advances in nuclear generation and increasing state interest in retaining and encouraging zero-emission nuclear power, NARUC’s Center for Partnerships & Innovation (CPI) manages a Nuclear Energy Partnership with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy. Through this Partnership, NARUC provides opportunities for state public service commissioners and commission staff to better understand barriers and opportunities related to the U.S. nuclear fleet. NARUC educates and informs state commissioners and staff on important issues surrounding the use of nuclear energy technologies. This partnership includes analysis on policy and regulatory issues related to existing and new nuclear generation, leading to educational briefs, workshops, and informational forums aimed at NARUC's state membership.

NARUC staff experts who support these activities include: Kiera Zitelman and Kathryn Kline.

Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative

Click here to learn more

The NARUC-NASEO Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative (ANSC) convenes state utility regulators, State Energy Officials, and invited experts to exchange questions, needs, and challenges relating to the planning and deployment of new advanced nuclear generation. ANSC members will participate in peersharing platforms as well as access and inform relevant technical assistance resources.

As a partnership between the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the ANSC will bring together state utility regulators and State Energy Officials from around the country to share information and develop a greater understanding about regulatory and policy steps that will be needed to facilitate the deployment of new nuclear generation. NARUC and NASEO staff support the collaborative. The DOE Office of Nuclear Energy sponsors this effort with dedicated funding through the DOE-NARUC Nuclear Energy Partnership.

View a recent product of the ANSC, the NARUC-NASEO Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker

Learn how to join.

Publications

  • Energy and Industrial Use Cases for Advanced Nuclear Reactors (October 2024)
    This report offers a comprehensive overview of potential alternative use cases for advanced nuclear energy, highlighting key considerations and critical questions for state utility regulators and State Energy Offices.

Download the report
View press release

  • Coal to Nuclear Repowering: Considerations for State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions (April 2024)
    This report highlights some of the benefits and challenges associated with the coal to nuclear repowering process, with a particular focus on the policy, programmatic, and regulatory considerations of relevance to State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions.

    Download the report
    View press release

  • Nuclear Generation in Long-Term Utility Resource Planning (November 2023)
    As advanced nuclear technologies mature, electric utilities are considering the role of advanced nuclear in their generation portfolios and IRPs. Through the IRP process, regulated utilities convey long-term generation investment decisions to state utility regulators. This report analyzes 17 utility integrated resource plan (IRP) filings to identify important trends regarding nuclear energy for consideration by state utility regulators.

    Download the report
    View press release

  • Nuclear Energy as a Keystone Clean Energy Resource (August 2022)
    Authored by Energy Ventures Analysis, Inc. under subcontract to NARUC, this report explores nuclear energy’s role in providing carbon-free electricity and highlights key considerations for regulators to keep in mind as decarbonization efforts continue across many states and utilities.

    The paper includes a discussion of the reliability and cost attributes of nuclear energy. EVA finds that retaining and expanding the nuclear energy resource base will be of critical importance to achieve ambitious state and national decarbonization goals. However, barriers to a faster and more significant deployment of new nuclear energy resources persist, and many existing nuclear plants face economic pressure and competition from other resources. Reducing or removing these hurdles is within the purview of many stakeholders on the federal, state and local levels, including state public utility commissions. The paper reviews the state of the nuclear industry and the impacts of planned retirements and identifies opportunities for decision makers to support future nuclear expansion efforts aligned with the public interest.

    Download the report
    View press release

Previous Events 

  • NARUC-NASEO Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Updated Pathways to Advanced Nuclear Commercial Liftoff
    October 28, 2024
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    View slides
    The recently released update to the May 2023 Advanced Nuclear Commercial Liftoff Report provides a refreshed picture of the nuclear landscape as the current reactor fleet is renewing existing operating licenses, exploring the restart or extension of plants slated to close early, and contemplating investments in capacity uprates. In this period, major technological, political, and economic developments have also changed the playing field for advanced reactors of all sizes. Julie Kozeracki, Director of Strategy, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy, one of the report's primary authors, discussed updates to the report and outlined a vision for the commercialization of the advanced nuclear industry. Hon. Michael Carrigan, Illinois Commerce Commission moderated the webinar.
  • NARUC-NASEO Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Nuclear Power Plant Uprates
    August 13, 2024
    View recording
    View slides
    Uprates refer to processes used to generate more electricity from existing nuclear power plants. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved 171 uprates resulting in over 8,000 MW of additional generation on the grid (as of January 2022). As demand grows for clean firm power, utilities and independent power producers are giving fresh consideration to uprates. This webinar explored the three common types of power uprates, their potential to increase capacity across the existing U.S. nuclear fleet, how plant owners analyze costs and benefits of uprates to come to investment decisions, and the role of state and federal regulators.
    Moderator: Alyse Peterson, Senior Advisor for Nuclear Coordination and Radioactive Waste Policy, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
    Panelists:
    • Chris Weigand, Senior Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute
    • William Orders, Senior Licensing Project Manager, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    • David Brown, Senior Vice President of Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy, Constellation Energy
  • 2024 Nuclear Site Visit: Knoxville, TN
    April 24 - 26, 2024
    During this site visit, attendees toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory nuclear research facilities, participated in an Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Roadmapping Draft Review Workshop, and connected with NASEO, NARUC, and NGA colleagues to explore economic development and workforce issues related to advanced nuclear. Click here for more information.
  • 2023 NEP Site Visit: Richland, WA
    April 25 - 28, 2023
    Commissioners, commission staff, and State Energy Office staff joined a NARUC-NASEO delegation to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Framatome's nuclear fuel manufacturing facility on April 25 - 28, 2023 to tour nuclear research and development facilities and surrounding nuclear sites. Click here for more information.
  • 2022 NEP Site Visit: Idaho Falls, ID
    June 27 - 30, 2022
    NARUC members toured nuclear research and development facilities at Idaho National Laboratory's campus in Idaho Falls, ID. Click here for more information.
  • NASEO-NARUC Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Evaluating Nuclear Waste Considerations for Advanced Nuclear Deployment, September 27, 2023 

    View recording
    View slides

    State Energy Offices and state utility regulators are exploring ways to plan for the growth of advanced nuclear over the next decade to harness the clean energy, grid reliability, economic development, and other benefits new nuclear generation can provide. Understanding how advanced nuclear reactors will address and account for nuclear waste is a vital consideration for these planning processes. During this webinar, participants:

    • Learned about the characteristics of spent fuel produced by advanced reactors and prospects for reprocessing;
    • Receiveed an update on DOE’s consent-based siting process, and NRC’s new emergency planning rule; and
    • Heard from experts about relevant emergency planning procedures and responsibilities for local government / first responders.

    Moderator: Hon. Bobby Janecka, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

    Speakers:

    • Dr. Robert Ledoux, Program Director, ONWARDS, ARPA-E
    • Jon-Michael Murray, Nuclear Policy Manager, Clean Air Task Force
    • Dr. Catherine Wise, Program Officer, Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
  • Webinar: NASEO-NARUC Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Facilitating Equitable Community Engagement to Support the Deployment of Advanced Nuclear
    August 17, 2023
    View slides
    View Recording

    Moderator: Molly Cripps, Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

    Speakers:

    • Kara Colton, Director of Nuclear Energy, Energy Communities Alliance
    • Christine King, Director, Gateway for Acceleration of Advanced Nuclear Initiative, Idaho National Laboratory
    • Jackie Toth, Deputy Director, Good Energy Collective
  • NARUC Summer Policy Summit, July 16 - 19, Austin TX
    Sunday, July 16, 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET: Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues session: Utilizing Advanced Nuclear Energy for Energy Security and Resilience on Military Bases in the United States
    Moderator: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

    Monday, July 17, 3:15 - 4:15 pm ET: Committee on Electricity session: Nuclear Small Modular Reactors, Economic Development, and Regulatory Implications
    Moderator: Hon. Kim Duffley, North Carolina

  • Webinar: Nuclear Energy Partnership Briefing on Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear Report
    June 22, 2023

    View slides
    View recording

    Moderator: Hon. Brent Bailey, Mississippi

    Speaker: Julie Kozeracki, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office

  • Webinar: Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Introduction and Advanced Nuclear 101
    April 20, 2023

    Contact NARUC staff for materials (available to NARUC and NASEO members only)

    Panelists:

    • Paul Kjellander, consultant to INL, former Idaho PUC president and OER director, and 2020-21 NARUC president
    • Dr. Monica Regalbuto, Director, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Strategy, Idaho National Laboratory
  • Webinar: Nuclear Energy - What Does the Public Think?
    Dec. 16, 2022

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    Moderator: Hon. Anthony O'Donnell, Maryland

    Panelists:

    • Jackie Toth, Deputy Director, Good Energy Collective
    • John Marshall, Chairman and CEO, Potential Energy Coalition
    • Dr. Kuhika Gupta, Associate Director, OU Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis
  • Quarterly NEP Meeting: Investigating Benefits and Challenges of Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Power Plants
    Oct. 21, 2022
    View recording
    Download report

  • Webinar: Nuclear Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
    Sept. 16, 2022

    View recording

    Moderator: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

    Panelists: 

    • Benton Arnett, Director, Markets and Policy, Nuclear Energy Institute
    • Jackie Toth, Deputy Director, Good Energy Collective
    • Jon-Michael Murray, Nuclear Policy Manager, Clean Air Task Force
  • Webinar: Nuclear as a Keystone Clean Energy Resource
    Aug. 26, 2022
    View presentation
    View recording

    Moderator: Hon. Anthony O'Donnell, Maryland

    Panelists:

    • Phillip Graeter, Manager, Energy Ventures Analysis
    • Deeksha Anand, Senior Integrated Energy Analyst, Energy Ventures Analysis
  • Quarterly NEP Meeting
    July 8, 2022
    For NEP members only - members can contact NARUC staff for meeting summary

  • Webinar: Assessing and Mitigating Financial Risks of New Nuclear
    June 17, 2022
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    View recording

    Moderator: Hon. Eric Skrmetta, Louisiana

    Panelists: 

    • Jeffrey Brown, Managing Director, Energy Futures Financing Forum and Adjunct Professor, Stanford School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences
    • Judi Greenwald, Executive Director, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
    • Kirsty Gogan, Co-Founder, TerraPraxis and Managing Partner, LUCIDCATALYST
  • NEP Virtual Briefing: Implications of Disruptions in Russian Fuel Supply on Nuclear Energy
    May 13, 2022
    Moderator: Commissioner Katherine Peretick, Michigan
    Speakers:

    • Nima Ashkeboussi, Senior Director, Fuel and Radiation Safety, NEI
    • John Kotek, Senior Vice President, Policy Development and Public Affairs, NEI
  • Webinar: Paving New Trails for Advanced Fission with Oklo
    March 11, 2022
    View presentation
    View recording

    Moderators:

    • Hon. Kim Duffley, North Carolina
    • Hon. Anthony O'Donnell, Maryland

    Speakers:

    • Dr. Jacob DeWitte, CEO and Co-Founder, Oklo Inc.
    • Jackie Kempfer Siebens, Director, Government Affairs, Oklo Inc.
  • NRC-NARUC Federal State Information Session on Nuclear Regulation
    February 16, 2022
    The Nuclear Energy Partnership hosted an information exchange with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) providing members with an overview of the NRC, and discussions on topics such as NRC approaches to optimizing the licensing process, the role of the NRC in safely regulating advanced reactors, and opportunities for engagement between NARUC, state public utility commissions and the NRC.

    View presentation

  • Webinar: Understanding and Solving HALEU Fuel Supply Chain Challenges
    January 7, 2022

    View presentation

    Speakers:

    • Dr. Monica C. Regalbuto, Director, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Strategy, Idaho National Laboratory
    • Andy Griffith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOE Office of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain
    • Dan Poneman, CEO of Centrus Energy Corp.
    • Kirk Schnoebelen, President, URENCO, Inc.
  • Quarterly NEP Meeting
    December 10, 2021
    For NEP members only - members can contact NARUC staff for meeting summary

  • Webinar: Compensating Nuclear Power
    October 8, 2021
    View presentation
    View recording

    Speakers:

    • Dr. David Gattie, Associate Professor of Engineering, University of Georgia
    • Lori Bird, Director, US Energy Program and Polsky Chair for Renewable Energy, World Resources Institute
    • Steven Swilley, Senior Director and Deputy Chief Nuclear Officer, Electric Power Research Institute
  • Webinar: Prospects for Nuclear in Puerto Rico and the Pacific Northwest
    August 6, 2021

    View presentation
    View recording

    Speakers:

    • Jesus M. Nunez, PE, Director of the Board and CEO, Nuclear Alternative Project
    • Arne Olson, Senior Partner, E3
  • NARUC Members-Only Advanced Nuclear Technology Workshop
    July 1, 2021

    This workshop featured advanced nuclear technology researchers and experts from public and private sectors to give NARUC members a clear picture of where these technologies are in the commercialization process. In addition, the workshop highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in advanced nuclear research, development, demonstration, and deployment, and identify information gaps and state needs and challenges in advanced nuclear development. Attendees heard from speakers representing the U.S. DOE/Idaho National Laboratory, Nuclear Innovation Alliance, X-energy, TerraPower, GE Hitachi, Kairos Power, and NuScale.

    View summary

  • Quarterly NEP Meeting
    June 11, 2021
    For NEP members only - members can contact NARUC staff for meeting summary

  • Webinar: Introduction to Advanced Nuclear
    June 4, 2021
    View presentation
    View recording

    Speakers:

    • Dr. Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Lead, Integrated Energy Systems, Idaho National Laboratory
    • Christine King, Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, Idaho National Laboratory
    • Nicholas McMurray, Nuclear Program Director, ClearPath
    • Jeffrey Merrifield, Partner, Pillsbury Law
  • Inaugural NEP Webinar: The State of Nuclear - Challenges and Opportunities
    May 7, 2021

    View presentation
    View recording

    Speakers:

    • Matt Crozat, Senior Director, Business Policy, Nuclear Energy Institute
    • Heather Feldman, Director, Nuclear Innovation, Electric Power Research Institute
    • Jessica Lovering, Founder, Good Energy Collective

Nuclear Energy Partnership Members

Partnership Chair: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia

Partnership Members:

  • Hon. Brent Bailey, Mississippi Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Michael Carrigan, Illinois Commerce Commission
  • Hon. John Chatburn, Idaho Public Utilities Commission
  • Hon. David Clark, Utah Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Kim Duffley, North Carolina Utilities Commission
  • Hon. John Gavan, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
  • Hon. Gary Hanson, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
  • Hon. David Hughes, U.S. Virgin Islands Public Services Commission
  • Hon. Brad Johnson, Montana Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Stefanie Krevda, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
  • Hon. Keith Kurber, Regulatory Commission of Alaska
  • Hon. Katherine Peretick, Michigan Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Chris Petrie, Wyoming Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Bob Pickett, Regulatory Commission of Alaska
  • Hon. Ann Rendahl, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
  • Hon. Michael Richard, Maryland Public Service Commission
  • Hon. Katie Sieben, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
  • Hon. Eric Skrmetta, Louisiana Public Service Commission
  • Hon. David Ziegner, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
  • Elijah Abinah, Arizona Corporation Commission
  • Zachary Branum, Arizona Corporation Commission
  • Patrick LeMere, Arizona Corporation Commission
  • Justin LéVeque, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
  • Rob Trokey, Georgia Public Service Commission
  • Amanda Best, Maryland Public Service Commission
  • Kevin Krause, Michigan Public Service Commission
  • Mike Kaluzniak, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
  • Davis Gates, Mississippi Public Service Commission
  • Bridget Frymire, New York State Public Service Commission
  • Alex Holtschneider, Maryland Public Utility Commission
  • Tom Kaczmarek, New York State Public Service Commission
  • Megan Good, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
  • Renae Carter, Virginia State Corporation Commission
  • David Burns, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (observer)
  • Keith Masill, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (observer)
  • Dr. Todd Allen, University of Michigan Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (associate member)
  • Dr. Caleb Brooks, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering (associate member)
  • Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (associate member)

If you are interested in getting involved with the Nuclear Energy Partnership, please contact NARUC staff to learn about associate membership options.