The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) have announced the launch of the Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative (ANSC)—an effort to bring together utility regulators and energy officials from across the nation to “enhance collective understanding” of the regulatory and policy issues facing states contemplating the deployment of new nuclear generation.
The ANSC is an initiative of the Nuclear Energy Partnership, a multiyear cooperative agreement established in January 2021 between NARUC and the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
According to the April 10 announcement, NARUC and NASEO have invited states considering or actively working toward advanced reactor deployment to join the ANSC, “as it offers a unique opportunity to receive direct support from nuclear experts while participating in real-time peer learning.”
Membership roster: Thirty-one utility commissions and state energy offices from 23 states have joined the ANSC so far, with members representing the following organizations:
What they’re saying: “Along with providing a space for states to discuss their experiences with new nuclear generation, the ANSC initiative will also help states to understand how nuclear technologies fit into their communities,” said Greg White, NARUC’s executive director. “This additional level of knowledge is important, as many states are working on energy transitions to meet new clean energy requirements.”
NASEO president David Terry commented, “State energy directors and their offices across the nation have decades of experience in using policy and planning to open markets for new, beneficial energy technologies and services in partnership with the private sector. The Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative is an exceptional opportunity to support interested state energy directors in exploring policy and planning options to move nuclear options forward in addressing their state’s energy reliability, affordability, economic, and environmental goals.”
Michael T. Carrigan, who will serve as the ANSC representative for the Illinois Commerce Commission, said in an ICC release that he would “be able to draw on the expertise from nuclear experts here in Illinois and the ICC staff to help the ANSC develop use cases and innovate regulatory treatment models for advanced nuclear reactors.” Carrigan also noted that “the University of Illinois microreactor project will provide invaluable information to the ANSC in real time as we exchange knowledge.”
