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.
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.
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.
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.
NASEO-NARUC Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Evaluating Nuclear Waste Considerations for Advanced Nuclear Deployment, September 27, 2023
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:
Moderator: Hon. Bobby Janecka, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Speakers:
Webinar: NASEO-NARUC Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative Webinar: Facilitating Equitable Community Engagement to Support the Deployment of Advanced Nuclear
August 17, 2023
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Moderator: Molly Cripps, Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Speakers:
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
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:
Webinar: Nuclear Energy - What Does the Public Think?
Dec. 16, 2022
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Moderator: Hon. Anthony O'Donnell, Maryland
Panelists:
Quarterly NEP Meeting: Investigating Benefits and Challenges of Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Power Plants
Oct. 21, 2022
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Webinar: Nuclear Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
Sept. 16, 2022
Moderator: Hon. Tim Echols, Georgia
Panelists:
Webinar: Nuclear as a Keystone Clean Energy Resource
Aug. 26, 2022
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Moderator: Hon. Anthony O'Donnell, Maryland
Panelists:
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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Moderator: Hon. Eric Skrmetta, Louisiana
Panelists:
NEP Virtual Briefing: Implications of Disruptions in Russian Fuel Supply on Nuclear Energy
May 13, 2022
Moderator: Commissioner Katherine Peretick, Michigan
Speakers:
Webinar: Paving New Trails for Advanced Fission with Oklo
March 11, 2022
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Moderators:
Speakers:
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.
Webinar: Understanding and Solving HALEU Fuel Supply Chain Challenges
January 7, 2022
Speakers:
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
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Speakers:
Webinar: Prospects for Nuclear in Puerto Rico and the Pacific Northwest
August 6, 2021
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Speakers:
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.
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
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Speakers:
Inaugural NEP Webinar: The State of Nuclear - Challenges and Opportunities
May 7, 2021
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Speakers:
Partnership Chair:
If you are interested in getting involved with the Nuclear Energy Partnership, please contact NARUC staff to learn about associate membership options.