The Department of Energy announced a plan Wednesday to work with state governments to develop nuclear projects ranging from waste disposal and recycling to fuel fabrication and power generation.
The request for information (RFI) asks for state input on potentially creating “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.” The offer of federal support in exchange for hosting nuclear waste storage facilities was first reported by POLITICO last week.
Two DOE officials, granted anonymity to speak freely, told POLITICO’s E&E News that the department’s goal is to establish a permanent, long-term solution for nuclear waste storage. If successful, the program could resolve decades of political gridlock over waste disposal while meeting rising energy demands.
“We are evaluating the Department of Energy’s request for information on Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses to determine whether it’s something Utah would be interested in working on with the department,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said in a statement.
