FOUR STATES VOLUNTEER TO HOST NUCLEAR COMPLEXES INCLUDING WASTE
Four states - Tennessee, Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska - have responded to DOE's recent RFI surrounding Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses citing their interest in hosting the entire range of nuclear energy-related development, including high-level waste.
Two of the states, Idaho and Tennessee, already host DOE national laboratories that do extensive nuclear-related work.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) said in a letter accompanying his state's application that a new complex would further Tennessee in "leading in advancing President Trump's America First energy dominance agenda."
In Idaho's application, Gov. Brad Little (R) said his state "has proudly fostered a robust nuclear ecosystem driven by close collaboration with national agencies, academic institutions, and private industry stakeholders."
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) cited his state's "public power utilities, robust regulatory environment, experienced workforce, and pro-business climate" in its application.
And Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) noted his state's vast stretches of vacant, state-held land along with an educated workforce and universities "performing cutting-edge nuclear research."
Ted Garrish, DOE's Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, told a Senate committee last month that the department will "very quickly" begin evaluating proposals to see which are viable.
ECA will continue to monitor the progress of this RFI and provide updates as they are available.