Oklahoma does not operate any commercial nuclear power plants. It is working on new efforts to build up its nuclear energy presence. The state has had two nuclear-related projects in the past. These are the Black Fox initiative and a research reactor on a university campus. Oklahoma is one of just 14 U.S. states that have never had a commercial nuclear plant in operation. It functions as an Agreement State under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The state has been chosen by the Department of Energy for potential inclusion in the nuclear life cycle campus program.
The AGN-211-P research reactor, located at the University of Oklahoma, was shut down in the 1980s. In addition to the research reactor, Oklahoma also had two sites dedicated to nuclear fuel processing. The Kerr-McGee Corporation’s Cimmaron facility, used for the fabrication of enriched uranium and mixed oxide fuel, operated from 1965 to 1975. The Sequoyah Fuels Corporation’s uranium conversion plant was active from 1970 to 1992. These two sites are now in the process of being decommissioned.
Oklahoma's Nuclear Initiative
In 2025, Governor Kevin Stitt signed S.B. 130 into law. The law required the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to lead a study. The study examined the feasibility of nuclear energy generation. The findings indicated there are no technical restrictions on developing nuclear power in the state. However, the study pointed out challenges in the areas of cost, project schedules, and how the public views nuclear energy. These could still be significant. Oklahoma is now working with companies such as Oklo and Deep Isolation. They are creating nuclear life cycle infrastructure.
Louisiana has two nuclear reactors, Waterford-3 and River Bend, which collectively generate about 15 percent of the state’s electricity produced within its borders. Waterford-3 has a total capacity of 1152 MWe, and River Bend produces 967 MWe. Both reactors came into service in the middle of the 1980s. These reactors serve as the foundation of Louisiana’s current nuclear energy system, but the state is now seeking to broaden its involvement in the nuclear industry.
Louisiana's Nuclear Projects
Louisiana’s energy department is planning three specialized hubs. These are part of the NLIC program. One hub would be at a military base in northwest Louisiana. It would be for testing and deploying small modular reactors. Another hub would be at Louisiana State University’s Innovation Park. It would be a research and production facility. The third hub would be a spent fuel storage project. It would be at Port Fourchon, the state’s southernmost port. Additionally, the state passed S.B. 127 last year. It created a faster permitting procedure for advanced nuclear projects.
Despite its active nuclear energy projects, Louisiana does not currently have any domestic uranium enrichment capabilities. A company known as Louisiana Energy Services was connected to the now-abandoned Claiborne Enrichment Center in the 1980s. However, it is no longer involved in nuclear activities in the state. The only commercial uranium enrichment company operating in the United States is Urenco USA. It is a subsidiary of Louisiana Energy Services.
Of the five states included in the NLIC program, only Louisiana and Tennessee have existing commercial nuclear power plants. Oklahoma is distinctive in its desire to build a nuclear industry from scratch. The upcoming reports in the series on the NLIC program will cover Idaho, Tennessee, and Utah.
Collaboration and Future Plans
The Grand River Dam Authority, which is Oklahoma’s largest public electricity provider, has become a member of a regional group called the Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium to explore new nuclear energy opportunities. At the same time, the University of Oklahoma is working to restore its nuclear-related offerings, including forming a new student chapter of the American Nuclear Society and planning to bring back its nuclear engineering program, which was discontinued in 1985.
Louisiana also enacted H.R. 212 to initiate a new nuclear feasibility study, further demonstrating its commitment to nuclear energy. These efforts in both Oklahoma and Louisiana illustrate a larger push in the U.S. to grow the nuclear energy sector. As both new and historically involved states shape the future of nuclear power, the NLIC program is playing a key role in guiding the next phase of nuclear development.