Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, is taking steps to put the Lone Star State at the forefront of the cutting-edge nuclear power industry. Abbott laid out plans for Texas to improve the state grid’s dependability and meet the state’s growing electrical consumption, which is being driven in part by the growth of sectors like AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining, in a statement released by FOX 7 Austin. Texas is portrayed in the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group study, which was made public on Monday, as both a leading energy company and a developing leader in nuclear technology.
An estimate by the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas at Austin, which FOX 7 Austin quoted, suggests that investing in small modular reactors could create $50.6 billion in additional economic activity and sustain 148,000 employment. By leveraging the state’s vast nuclear knowledge, this expansion could offer a timely answer to Texas’ energy supply chain, since ERCOT projects that the demand for electricity will nearly double over the next six years.
Notably, the creation of the Texas Nuclear Energy Fund is also supported by the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group. This proposal is in line with the overwhelmingly positive response to a related program, the Texas Energy Fund, which received applications for more than 55.8 GW of new natural gas capacity from power producing companies. A strong response from advanced nuclear prospects is also expected as a result of such aggressive actions, indicating a promising future for the Texas nuclear industry.
In addition to having abundant uranium reserves, which make up 8% of the nation’s total, the state is currently home to significant nuclear projects including the Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant and the South Texas Nuclear Project. Doug Robison, CEO of Natura Resources, told Forbes that the company plans to test the first advanced molten salt reactor of its kind by 2026, marking a significant milestone. The cooperation between Natura Resources, Abilene Christian University, and other academic institutions in this initiative shows that Texas has a strong educational foundation to support nuclear breakthroughs.
Texas’ nuclear aspirations may be further supported by the political alignment. President-elect Donald Trump just nominated Chris Wright, who is well-known for supporting nuclear energy growth, as Secretary of Energy, raising the possibility that federal help is imminent. Abbott said, “Texas is the energy capital of the world, and we are ready to be No. 1 in advanced nuclear power,” which is consistent with the Forbes report’s mention of the possibility of coordination between state and federal energy agendas. The timing of the research couldn’t be more ideal given Texas’ well-established nuclear infrastructure and the anticipated expansion of the industry.
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