Oklahoma selected as finalist for major nuclear energy campus
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Oklahoma is one of just five states being considered for a massive new nuclear energy project that could bring billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Oklahoma has been selected as a potential host for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, part of the Trump administration's effort to rebuild America's domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.
The proposed campuses would support activities including uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel fabrication, advanced reactor development, recycling used nuclear fuel and advanced manufacturing. Some sites could also include power generation and data centers.
If Oklahoma is ultimately selected, the DOE says a campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue, and create nearly 25,000 high-paying jobs.
Governor Kevin Stitt called the announcement "a new frontier" for Oklahoma's energy industry, saying the state has long been a leader in oil and natural gas production and now has an opportunity to become a leader in nuclear energy as well.
Oklahoma was chosen alongside Utah, Tennessee, Louisiana and Idaho from a field of 28 applications submitted by 26 states. The Department of Energy has not announced when it expects to make a final decision on host locations.
