Texas has big potential as nuclear generation technology center: regulator
- crosswindcommunicati
- Mar 27, 2024
- 1 min read
Texas has substantial advantages for developing nuclear power plants, both on-site and modular, but faces a permitting "valley of death" to move projects forward, a state regulator told attendees of The University of Texas at Austin Energy Week March 28.
Jimmy Glotfelty, a member of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, chairs the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group, and he spoke during a UT Energy Week panel discussion titled, "The Future of Nuclear via the Past and President Perspectives of France, the US and Texas."
"We have the supply chain -- the manufacturing for oil and gas facilities," Glotfelty said. "We fabricate things. We have the people with welding skills and pipefitters. We have all of these -- different disciplines that go into making vessels, pumps, steel structures, concrete structures. All of these things are necessary for small modular nuclear generation."
Describing the working group's activities, Glotfelty said, "We're ecstatic about the direction and speed and progress we're making."
The working group has formed four subgroups, he said, which are:
State and federal policy
State and federal regulatory issues
Education
Supply chain
Glotfelty said the working group is studying the potential impact of five new nuclear power plants in Texas, but after the panel discussion, he said he hoped more could be built.
