Bill > HB1572

This bill requires the Department of Energy and Environment to commission a comprehensive technical feasibility study on implementing nuclear energy generation in Arkansas within 60 days of the act being funded. The study will be conducted by an outside consulting firm with specific criteria, including extensive experience in the nuclear industry, expertise in nuclear reactor design, licensing, and operations, and neutrality toward reactor technologies. The consulting firm will be expected to produce a detailed report within 15 months, examining various aspects of potential nuclear energy generation, such as economic and environmental impacts, optimal design specifications, safety criteria, siting considerations, and the feasibility of different nuclear technologies like small modular and microreactors. The study will also assess socioeconomic impacts, including workforce development, tax base effects, and job creation, and review potential policies and federal programs to support nuclear energy adoption. The bill includes an emergency clause, emphasizing the urgent need to ensure a continuous and adequate power supply for Arkansas citizens and businesses, which will make the act effective immediately upon gubernatorial approval or other specified conditions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1572&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R