Today, the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group has released its report to the Texas Public Utility Commission. The PUC Working Group was formed at the request of Governor Greg Abbott who asked that:
“This working group should focus on understanding the state’s role in deploying and using advanced nuclear reactors; consider aJI potential financial incentives available; determine nuclear-specific change needed in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market; identify any federal or state regulatory impediments to development; and identify how the state can streamline and accelerate permitting for the building of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas. The working group should also engage Texas supply chain manufacturers to foster homegrown development of this technology in our state.“
Chaired, by Texas Public Utility Commission Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty, the Working Group included over 100 industry experts who spent more than 50,000 hours researching their charges and making recommendations. In releasing the report, Commissioner Glotfelty said,
“The brightest minds in advanced nuclear energy are already here in Texas, and they were the drivers of this groundbreaking report. I’m grateful to the nuclear industry leaders, experts from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, manufacturing and supply chain powerhouses, and leaders from every level of government who served their state and participated in this effort. This report is just the beginning. Now, Texas and our leaders are equipped with the information they need to take swift action and ensure advanced nuclear power delivers safe, reliable, and affordable energy for generations of Texans to come.” (Full Statement)
The Working Group suggests five benefits that advanced nuclear power can bring to Texas:
- Enhanced Energy Security – Advanced Nuclear Reactors (ANRs) will support Texas’ growing energy needs – providing clean, reliable power for urban centers, ports, oil and gas regions, industrial facilities, data centers, and military bases. This will strengthen both energy security and national security.
- Improved Grid Reliability – Nuclear power is more reliable than coal, wind, and solar, offering the resilience essential for everyday use and extreme weather conditions.
- Economic Development & Industry Opportunities – ANRs can co-locate with data centers and support heavy industries by providing process heat, powering desalination plants, and electrifying oil fields. This will create new, good-paying jobs, increase production, and grow paychecks across Texas. According to a Bureau of Business Research (BBR) report, a moderate small modular reactor (SMR) deployment by 2055 could result in:
- An annual average of 148,000 people employed directly and indirectly by the new SMR industry in construction, operations, and manufacturing.
- Over $50 billion in new economic output for Texas.
- Over $27 billion in income for Texas workers.
- First-In-The-Nation Advantages – Texas has the chance to lead the national competition 4 in advanced nuclear power. Being the first state with an efficient ANR strategy will bring jobs, manufacturing support, & supply chain gains.
- Global Market Potential – The global nuclear market is projected to triple by 2050. 5 Establishing Texas as the preferred supplier for U.S.-based ANR technology will open international opportunities and offer an alternative to Chinese and Russian nuclear reactor technology for allies and partners.
The Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group make seven recommendations to the Texas Legislature for consideration during the legislative session convening in January 2025:
- Texas Advanced Nuclear Authority – A non-regulatory entity to coordinate Texas’ strategic nuclear vision, implement ANR policy recommendations, and manage potential funds and oversight of state nuclear incentive programs.
- Texas Nuclear Permitting Officer – A single point of contact for advanced nuclear reactor developers and associated businesses to navigate permitting.
- Workforce Development Program for Community Colleges and Universities – Coordination plan between workforce, education, and industry to support a homegrown nuclear workforce in Texas capable of meeting ANR industry and Texas energy demand.
- Texas Advanced Manufacturing Institute – Designed to develop and foster a nuclear ecosystem in Texas.
- Texas Nuclear Public Outreach Program – A communications and public engagement plan to inform and educate Texans about the benefits of advanced nuclear power and reactor development.
- Texas Nuclear Energy and Supply Chain Fund – A direct grant cost-sharing program to incentivize early development and siting, and support – supply chain and manufacturing capacity readiness.
- Texas Nuclear Energy Fund – An appropriation to a fund, modeled after the existing Texas Energy Fund, explicitly for advanced nuclear power to overcome the funding valley project developers face in Texas.
The full report is available on the Texas Public Utility Commission website, or can be downloaded here: