A coalition of 11 states is pushing forward to be leaders of America’s nuclear energy renaissance. The Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, launched through a partnership between the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN), is a coordinated effort to accelerate nuclear energy adoption across participating states.
The initiative brings together state energy offices from New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia with experts from DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop a comprehensive approach to nuclear deployment.
This state-led coalition emerges as demand for reliable, carbon-free electricity surges amid rapid growth in data centers, industry and the need to avert predicted climate disasters. Nuclear power’s ability to provide consistent baseload generation without carbon emissions has repositioned it as a cornerstone technology in many states’ energy transition strategies.
“Each of these states has been working on their individual strategies. In this group we expect to see partners emerge with common goals and complementary timelines. It’s very exciting,” said GAIN director Christine King.
The coalition will focus on five key areas: supportive market adoption policies, supply chain development, coordinated procurement strategies, innovative financing structures and public-private partnerships. This approach aims to address the complex challenges that have historically hindered nuclear expansion.
New York, as one of the co-chairs, demonstrates renewed interest in nuclear energy. After previously planning to close several nuclear facilities, the state has reversed course in recent years as it confronts the challenge of meeting its ambitious clean energy targets while maintaining grid reliability.
Similarly, Wyoming—another co-chair—has been actively exploring nuclear options as it transitions from its traditional coal-based economy. The state is already home to TerraPower’s Natrium reactor demonstration project, backed by Bill Gates, which is being built at the site of a retiring coal plant. The initiative builds upon the existing Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative, an education-focused platform launched two years ago that currently includes 32 states. While the broader collaborative focuses on information sharing, the First Mover initiative is a more action-oriented approach among states ready to facilitate industry partnerships.
This state-led effort aligns with recent federal actions to support nuclear power expansion. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included production tax credits for existing nuclear plants and new facilities, while the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $6 billion to prevent the premature retirement of nuclear plants facing economic challenges. The Department of Energy has already taken significant steps on that front, including a $1.52 billion loan guarantee last year to restart Michigan’s Palisades Nuclear Plant.
Industry involvement is expected to be substantial, with major nuclear developers like NuScale Power, TerraPower, X-energy and Kairos Power likely to engage with the coalition. These companies are at various stages of deployment for small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies that promise enhanced safety features and greater flexibility than conventional nuclear plants.
This state-led coalition emerges as major technology companies have begun making unprecedented investments in nuclear power to meet the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence. In late 2024, Amazon, Google and Microsoft collectively announced agreements for more than 1,600 megawatts of new nuclear capacity—enough to power approximately 1.5 million American homes.
For states interested in joining the initiative or learning more about advanced nuclear development, NASEO and GAIN maintain resources to help navigate the regulatory, technical and financial aspects of nuclear energy deployment.
Image by Qubes Pictures from Pixabay
The post States form alliance to accelerate nuclear energy deployment appeared first on Government Market News.