State agencies, Entergy and PSC outline readiness, limits and policy options for advanced nuclear in Louisiana

Representatives of Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the governor’s office, Entergy, the Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) briefed the joint Natural Resources committee on state capacity, regulatory responsibilities and recommended next steps for advanced nuclear deployment in Louisiana.

LED said energy demand from new industrial projects and data centers makes longer‑term, low‑carbon generating options important to state economic strategy. “We want to ensure that we have very good solutions in the long term for energy demand and to be able to meet that demand with clean, affordable, and reliable power,” Paige Carter, LED’s chief business development officer, told the committee.

The governor’s office reiterated executive‑level support. Steven Swiber, the governor’s chief resilience officer and energy policy adviser, said the administration has engaged state agencies and utilities and called for a “whole‑of‑government” approach. He noted federal permitting and regulatory constraints and said the state is coordinating with the Public Service Commission and utilities.

Entergy described existing nuclear assets and short‑term actions. Jody Monteilaro said Entergy Louisiana currently supplies about 20 percent of the state’s electricity from two nuclear plants, Waterford and Riverbend, representing roughly 2 gigawatts of capacity. Monteilaro said Entergy is exploring uprates, small modular reactor (SMR) evaluations and potential partnerships; she emphasized that on‑site dry‑cask storage is designed for secure interim storage and that Department of Energy reimbursements have covered utilities’ added storage costs to date.

Regulatory limits and permitting responsibilities were clarified by LDEQ. Secretary Giacometo and Kevin Bourne of LDEQ told lawmakers that Louisiana is an NRC agreement state for certain radiation activities but that the NRC retains licensing authority for commercial SMRs and microreactors. LDEQ said it is reviewing other states’ rules and preparing to streamline state permitting to reduce delays should companies pursue projects in Louisiana.

Public Service Commission work: Commissioner Jim Scametta outlined a PSC‑led initiative called the Louisiana Advanced Nuclear Competitive Edge (LAANC). The group, formed with participation from Idaho National Laboratory, reactor vendors and manufacturers, produced a framework report recommending three pillars: generation planning (including utility integrated resource planning and SMR options), an advanced‑nuclear supply chain to leverage Louisiana manufacturers, and a value chain strategy to attract industrial load that benefits from low‑carbon power and process heat. Scametta said the PSC is exploring financing options, state incentives for manufacturing and workforce training partnerships with higher education and community colleges.

Academic and technical perspective: Dr. Brandon Upton (LSU/energy analyst) provided national context, noting nuclear accounts for about 18–19 percent of U.S. electric generation and that construction timelines and up‑front capital costs remain substantial. He cited the cost and multi‑year schedule of recent large projects and cautioned that natural gas remains a low‑cost comparator in the Gulf Coast region.

What was not decided: The committee received briefings and exchanged questions. No bills, motions or regulatory changes were adopted at the meeting.

Ending note: Multiple speakers recommended further study, closer state‑federal coordination on licensing and financing, and early community engagement on siting. The PSC’s LAANC report and LDEQ regulatory review were identified as near‑term materials for legislators and agencies to consider.