NASEO, NARUC release new tool to track advanced nuclear activities

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) released a new tool that provides an overview of advanced nuclear activities and partnerships organized by state government entities.

The Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker highlights state actions from 2013 to the present and will be updated monthly to provide timely and relevant information. This will include details of relevant executive orders, policies and programs and state legislation across the United States and the District of Columbia and will include actions from state public utility commissions, State Energy Offices, state legislatures and governor’s offices.

“State Energy Offices will benefit greatly from utilizing the tool to explore diverse, state-level approaches to supporting advanced nuclear,” Molly Cripps, director of the Tennessee State Energy Office and NASEO Vice Chair, said. “The tool provides examples of advanced nuclear policies and programs across the country and will be an important resource for identifying paths forward to support advanced nuclear research, development, and deployment across the U.S. and globally.”

The Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker resulted from feedback from the Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative (ANSC) on how states are engaging to support advanced nuclear initiatives.

“Having the ability to see the types of approaches states are taking to advanced nuclear program implementation is invaluable to state regulators,” Commissioner Katherine Peretick of the Michigan Public Service Commission said. “This information will assist states in considering diverse approaches to advanced nuclear activities and foster consideration of what model best fits an individual state’s energy policy priorities.”

Interested parties can go to the tracker website to learn more and get up-to-date information on advanced nuclear state activities and partnerships.

“NARUC is excited to offer this tool to our members and stakeholders as a resource for tracking and learning about state advanced nuclear activities,” NARUC Center for Partnerships and Innovation Senior Director Danielle Sass Byrnett said. “Naturally, decision makers want to understand what their colleagues have done in other states, so they can learn from those efforts. The Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker provides an accessible platform for easily identifying key state advanced nuclear activities.”

The Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker is a product of work created through the ANSC with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy.

“State Energy Offices are leading the development of state policy and analytical activities in many states and helping to accelerate advanced nuclear opportunities,” NASEO Executive Director David Terry said. “The Advanced Nuclear State Action Tracker provides governors’ State Energy Office Directors with up-to-date information and examples that can aid in the development of executive orders, legislation, and public-private investment partnership to move advanced nuclear projects forward to help meet reliability, decarbonization, economic development, and other goals.”