Bill to Establish Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office Progresses

A newly proposed arm of state government would have authority to deliver grants of up to $200 million to private companies seeking to build advanced nuclear power generation plants in Texas under legislation the House advanced this week.

House Bill 14 by Rep. Cody Harris (R-8) would establish the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office in the governor’s office. The new agency would assess the need for additional nuclear generation or explore ways to promote future plant construction.

Harris said the measure is vital for Texas to expand its overall electric generation capacity and to ensure the state remains competitive as nuclear generation picks up.

“Investment in nuclear technology has now become a strategic and moral imperative for our country,” Harris said as he laid out his bill. “The global race for energy dominance is not just an economic competition, it is a geopolitical contest with immense national security implications. United States cannot afford to cede leadership in nuclear energy to China.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, China doubled its nuclear generation capacity from 2013 to 2023. The United States, however, remains the world’s leader in nuclear generation, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

The House passed HB 14 via a voice vote Tuesday. After passing it a second time Wednesday, the proposal was advanced to the Senate.

Rep. John Bryant (D-114) questioned whether the bill makes any accommodation for storing any radioactive waste that would come from increased nuclear generation. Harris said that matter is not addressed in his bill.

Bryant also questioned why private companies would receive grants under the governor’s Advanced Nuclear Energy Office.

“Those are not loans. Those are grants, correct?” Bryant asked. “And those grants will go to a profit-making entity. Is there some reason why you’re not asking them to repay the grant?”

Harris said speed is imperative if Texas expects to attract companies to build nuclear facilities in the state.

In his State of the State address in February, Gov. Greg Abbott called for a “nuclear power renaissance” in Texas and signaled his support for legislation that would advance the industry. Harris said his bill would carry out the governor’s vision.

“Texas will become the epicenter of national nuclear renaissance and will attract billions in private capital investment and create tens of thousands of high-wage jobs for Texas,” Harris said.

Rep. Brian Harrison (R-10) said he supports stepping up Texas’ nuclear capacity, but the private sector is capable of meeting the market’s demand for electric generation without establishing another state office.

“I’m sorry, but the solution to every problem we have received is not to create a new government program, new government bureau or a new government agency,” Harrison said. “We cannot lose sight of the fact that far too often government solutions are worse than the problems that they purport to solve.”

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