Louisiana unveils nuclear framework, announces $45M grant

(The Center Square) − Louisiana officials on Tuesday formally launched the state’s first Nuclear Strategic Framework, pitching nuclear energy as both a power solution and an economic development play as Louisiana tries to keep pace with rising electricity demand.

Tied to the announcement is a $45 million federal funding renewal for the Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, or FUEL, a research-and-commercialization effort led by Louisiana State University.

The framework, unveiled at CERAWeek in Houston, lays out four priority areas for the state: nuclear manufacturing and component production, expansion of nuclear generation, uranium fuel conversion and fuel enrichment capabilities.

State officials said the plan is meant to coordinate agencies, industry and local partners around project delivery, workforce development and long-term investment. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said the state is trying to match its growth strategy to a new era of power demand, while Gov. Jeff Landry cast the effort as part of a broader push for American “energy dominance.”

“This is a power-first economy,” Bourgeois told The Center Square in a previous interview. “To not pay attention to something as significant as a nuclear opportunity would be a miss.”

The strategy is designed not only around reactor deployment, but around building an in-state industrial ecosystem tied to manufacturing, fuel-cycle opportunities and workforce training. Stephen Swiber, an official with the department, said that the Trump administration has been "very keen" on nuclear energy and that the state intends to compliment those efforts.

The state has already scheduled a Louisiana Nuclear Strategy & Supply Chain Summit for April 27-29 at the Windsor Court in New Orleans, where officials say they plan to bring together industry, government and finance leaders to turn the strategy into projects and investment.

Currently, the state is home to Entergy’s Waterford 3 nuclear plant in Killona, which has operated since 1985 and is licensed through 2044, giving Louisiana an existing foothold in the industry. Last year, lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 127 to create a permitting framework for advanced nuclear generation, including small modular reactors.

On the research side, LSU’s role continues to grow. The National Science Foundation says FUEL is backed by more than 53 partners across business, government and higher education, and the state said the renewed funding is part of a broader 10-year, $160 million investment.

LSU has also expanded its national-lab relationships: after signing a memorandum with Idaho National Laboratory in 2025 around advanced nuclear energy and cybersecurity, the university announced additional research agreements in January with Argonne and Oak Ridge national laboratories.