By Constitution Staff

Oklahoma was named a finalist by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to host a first-of-its-kind Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC). On July 28, the DOE announced that Oklahoma, Utah, Tennessee, Louisiana and Idaho were chosen from 28 applications submitted by 26 states. The selected states signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the DOE to continue exploring the opportunity to become host sites. In September, West Virginia also signed a MOU. Federal officials expect to select up to three states later this year to host the campuses.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the campuses are part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s nuclear fuel cycle and expand domestic nuclear energy production as demand for electricity continues to grow. “These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance. The innovative concept is a direct result of President Trump’s leadership and ambitious directives to restore the domestic nuclear fuel cycle and get America’s nuclear industry growing again.”

The DOE estimates a campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and create nearly 25,000 jobs. The proposed campus would bring together multiple components of the advanced nuclear industry that includes research, fuel fabrication, small modular reactor technology, medical isotope production and related operations, creating a first-of-its-kind center for innovation in the United States.

Governor Kevin Stitt called the selection an opportunity to expand Oklahoma’s role as an energy leader. “Oklahoma has always been the leader in energy production and innovation, from the oil boom of the early 1900s to the shale revolution in mid-2000s,” said Governor Stitt. “Today marks a new frontier – the chance to add nuclear to our energy abundance agenda. This opportunity is an all hands on deck moment, and I look forward to working with communities across our state to make this campus a reality. I’m grateful to President Trump and Secretary Wright for their leadership and considering Oklahoma, and for the companies, research institutions, and leaders across our state who have already pulled a seat up to the table to be a part of this project.”

Governor Stitt said the state will begin working with communities to identify the best location for a potential campus. Legislative leaders also welcomed the announcement, saying Oklahoma will compete aggressively to be one of the final selections.

“Being named a finalist is an exciting opportunity for Oklahoma and a testament to the strength of our state’s energy industry, workforce and innovation,” said Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) . “But this isn’t the finish line, it’s the beginning of the final stretch. We intend to compete aggressively, continue making our case and show the nation why Oklahoma is the best place to build the future of advanced energy. This opportunity could be the next chapter in building on our state’s reputation as an energy powerhouse. We already have the skilled workforce, world-class CareerTech system, outstanding universities and engineering expertise needed to support an industry that will create thousands of high-paying jobs and billions of dollars in private investment.”

Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) said the designation reflects Oklahoma’s readiness to play a leading role in advancing America’s energy future. “Oklahoma has long been a national leader in energy production, and this designation would reinforce our state’s role in shaping America’s energy future. With abundant land, a skilled workforce and existing energy infrastructure, Oklahoma is uniquely positioned to support the next generation of nuclear technology. This investment will strengthen our economy, create high-quality jobs and enhance our nation’s energy security.”

The DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) on January 28, 2026, inviting states to express interest in hosting a NLIC to help modernize the nation’s full nuclear fuel cycle and strengthen America’s leadership in advanced nuclear energy. In their submissions, states outlined how a campus would advance goals such as workforce development, infrastructure investment, economic diversification, or technology leadership and described the scope of activities they envision hosting. States had to submit responses by April 1, 2026.

The proposed campuses are designed to support activities across the full nuclear fuel lifecycle, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and final disposition of used nuclear fuel. Depending on state priorities and regional capabilities, the campuses may also host advanced reactor deployment, power generation, advanced manufacturing, and co-located data centers.

While Oklahoma does not have a nuclear power plant, it does have a history with nuclear energy. However, some of that history is clouded by controversy.

A subsidiary of Kerr-McGee Corporation, the energy and chemical company founded in Oklahoma, operated the Cimarron River facility near Crescent in central Oklahoma from 1965 to 1975. The facility fabricated enriched uranium and mixed-oxide fuels for nuclear reactor fuel rods. The facility received national attention when Karen Silkwood, a technician and union activist, registered safety complaints and was found to be contaminated with plutonium in 1974. She died in a suspicious car crash and the story was depicted in the 1983 movie Silkwood. The company opened a second nuclear facility in 1970 near Gore, in the eastern part of the state. That plant converted uranium concentrate into uranium hexafluoride. In 1986, an overfilled cylinder ruptured, killing one worker and injuring others. The facility had another accident in 1992, and the plant closed in 1993.

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) announced plans in 1973 to build the Black Fox Nuclear Power Plant near Inola. Regulatory hearings began in 1976 amid legal challenges and anti-nuclear protests. The first construction permits were finally obtained in 1978. But, opposition intensified following the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania which melted part of a reactor. Also in 1979, the movie The China Syndrome added to the hysteria concerning the safety of nuclear power plants. PSO canceled the project in 1982, after nine years of delays and climbing costs. The estimated cost of construction in 1973 was $450 million, but by 1979, the cost had grown to $3.4 billion.

The development of new nuclear power plants in the United States has been stalled for several decades. But the proposed nuclear campus program is part of an initiative to reestablish global leadership in nuclear energy. The work is guided by four executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on May 23, 2025, that underscore the urgent national imperative to secure economic resilience, energy independence, national defense, and technological leadership.