States Propose Hosting Nuclear Waste for Energy Development Aid

WHO:

AP News - Five states: Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Idaho, all with Republican governors.

AP News - Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the campuses will be crucial for America's nuclear industry.

AP News - California Rep. Mike Levin, a Democrat, commented on the nuclear fuel announcement.

WHAT:

AP News - The five states have agreed to accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal help developing nuclear energy.

AP News - The proposed storage sites would help store over 95,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.

AP News - The Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses may include waste sites, uranium enrichment, spent-fuel reprocessing, and fuel fabrication.

AP News - The campuses could attract up to $50 billion in private investment and generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenues.

AP News - The Energy Department stated eligible projects could access federal loans worth billions of dollars.

WHERE:

AP News - The states involved are Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Idaho.

AP News - Tennessee is home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Idaho hosts the Idaho National Laboratory.

WHEN:

AP News - The announcement comes as President Trump attempts to quadruple domestic nuclear energy production.

WHY:

AP News - The states aim to help America reclaim its leadership in civilian nuclear energy and address the challenges of storing nuclear waste.

AP News - The plan is motivated by surging electricity demand due to a data center and artificial intelligence boom.

HOW:

AP News - The non-binding agreements allow states to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses that include various nuclear energy-related facilities.

AP News - The NRC has proposed eliminating a foundational safety principle regarding radiation exposure to expedite nuclear reactor development.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 01:29 UTC)

Five states with Republican governors—Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Idaho—have agreed to accept nuclear waste in exchange for federal assistance in developing nuclear energy. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses could store over 95,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and attract significant private investment, potentially generating up to $10 billion in state and local tax revenues. This initiative aims to bolster America’s leadership in civilian nuclear energy while addressing the growing challenges of nuclear waste storage, driven by increasing electricity demand from the data center and artificial intelligence sectors.