Senate committee hears industry and public testimony on SB 2967 and advanced nuclear policy

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce Chair Senator Schwertner convened a hearing on Senate Bill 29‑67, the Texas Advanced Nuclear and Innovative Energy Technologies Act, inviting industry developers, utilities and consumer groups to testify on whether and how the state should support advanced nuclear projects.

Why it matters: witnesses said the state can influence where companies build manufacturing and reactor supply chains and can reduce project risk by supporting permitting, workforce development and early, milestone‑based grants. Opponents warned that taxpayer grants for early‑stage nuclear projects risk large public expense if projects fail or face cost overruns.

What happened: Jimmy Glotfelty, former commissioner at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, opened the invited testimony and said, “I’m here to support, senate bill 29 67.” He summarized the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group’s recommendations and urged state backing for permitting support, supply‑chain grants and early project development assistance to reduce private developers’ risk. Doug Robinson, founder and CEO of Natura Resources, described his company’s recent Nuclear Regulatory Commission construction permit for an advanced demonstration reactor and urged milestone‑based state programs to close a private financing “valley of death.”

Industry requests and examples: - Permitting support: witnesses told the committee…