Bill > A1071

Introduced Session

This bill would establish, in the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), a program to incentivize the development of advanced nuclear reactors in the State. Under the advanced nuclear program established by the bill, the BPU would issue a request for expressions of interest and information for the construction of at least one advanced nuclear reactor to generate at least 1,100 megawatts of electric power in the State. The bill would establish certain conditions that are required to be met in order for the BPU to approve an advanced nuclear reactor project, including that the project will significantly contribute to meeting the State's energy reliability, resilience, and capacity needs at a reasonable cost to ratepayers. If approved, a qualified advanced nuclear reactor project would be authorized to receive financial support through an advanced nuclear development charge (ANDC) and advanced nuclear energy certificates (ANECs). Under the ANDC, a qualified advanced nuclear reactor project would be eligible to receive funding for a negotiated percentage of construction costs through a non-bypassable charge which would be imposed on all electric utility customers and deposited into a fund to be known as the Advanced Nuclear Development Fund. Under the ANEC program, a certain percentage of the electric power sold in the State would be required to be from advanced nuclear reactors, and electric utilities would satisfy this requirement by purchasing a certain number of ANECs each year. Finally, the bill would amend the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act" (CAFRA), P.L.1973, c.185 (C.13:19-1 et seq.), to remove the requirement for the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to determine that a nuclear energy generation facility's method for the disposal of radioactive waste material is safe, conforms to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards, and removes danger to life and the environment, prior to being issued a CAFRA permit.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Wayne DeAngelo (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document