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Lawmakers press nuclear and fusion presenters on timelines, waste and tribal concerns as industry pitches jobs
Summary
Scott Lopez (New Mexico Nuclear Alliance), Alex Doniak (Pacific Fusion) and Kairos Power representatives briefed lawmakers about New Mexico's existing nuclear ecosystem, a planned fusion R&D campus in Albuquerque and advanced reactor manufacturing at Mesa Del Sol; legislators pressed for clarity on waste disposal, tribal remediation and timelines for SMRs and commercial fusion.
Representatives from the New Mexico Nuclear Alliance, Pacific Fusion and Kairos Power presented to the Science, Technology & Telecommunications committee on a mix of nuclear and fusion activities in the state and fielded questions on timelines, workforce and waste management.
Scott Lopez, founder of the New Mexico Nuclear Alliance, described New Mexico as "the only state in America with a complete cradle to grave nuclear ecosystem," highlighting uranium resources in the Grants Mineral Belt, labs and waste management infrastructure. He advocated for local benefit and workforce programs and said the alliance supports cleanup funding and compensation for downwinders.
Alex Doniak of Pacific Fusion presented a plan for a research and manufacturing campus at Mesa Del Sol in Albuquerque. Doniak said the facility is a demonstration and manufacturing campus, "not a power plant," and that the company aims for a net facility gain by 2030 and commercial-scale fusion in the mid-2030s. She stressed the facility's limited water use, regulatory oversight by the state radiation control bureau and ongoing outreach to communities and tribal leaders.
Kairos Power (Nikki Sizemore) reviewed the company's Albuquerque manufacturing and testing facilities, TRISO fuel and fluoride-salt reactor technology, the staged path of engineering test units (non-nuclear prototypes), Hermes demonstrators in Tennessee and a master plan agreement to supply Google with 500 MW. She said Kairos has invested in New Mexico manufacturing capacity and workforce programs and noted the company does not host enriched uranium on-site.
Lawmakers repeatedly raised waste and trust issues. Several members said tribal communities remain skeptical given historical uranium extraction harms and asked where commercial reactor waste would be stored; presenters acknowledged there is no national commercial repository and that on-site storage and long-term policy remain unresolved. The presenters pledged continued transparency, tribal engagement and cooperation with state regulators and federal agencies.
No formal approvals or state financial commitments were made during the hearing; presenters offered to continue community engagement and provide technical briefings and facility tours.
