Oklahoma is in the headlines again as Governor Kevin Stitt signs Senate Bill 130 into law, marking a significant step toward exploring the potential for nuclear energy in the state. Authored by Senator George Burns, R-Pollard, the bill was signed off with a clear agenda: to commission a comprehensive feasibility study that would detail the viability of nuclear energy generation within Oklahoma's borders, as reported by the Oklahoma State Senate.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been directed, within a 90-day deadline following the bill's effective date, to ink a contract with an external firm that specializes in such analyses. Breaking away from traditional state procurement protocols, this process will model after the approach used to hire expert witnesses—in a move to ensure an expedient and focused study, Senator Burns said in a statement on the Oklahoma Senate that "This study will give us the data we need to make informed decisions about energy diversification, reliability, and long-term sustainability for our state."
Comprehensive in scope, the study will evaluate not only the technical feasibility but also the legal implications of introducing nuclear as a player in Oklahoma's energy game. Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, who carried the measure in the House, expressed appreciation for the Governor's support and spotlighted the alignment of the bill with national energy directives: "I want to thank the Governor for signing Senate Bill 130 into law as well as Sen. Burns for his help in the Senate getting this bill across the finish line, which aligns with President Trump’s national energy policy that promotes nuclear energy as an additional source of energy to add to our national energy portfolio," Boles said as replicated by the Oklahoma State Senate.
Engagement is also sought from various stakeholders in the state's current energy sector. Charged with collaborating with both retail electric suppliers and municipally owned utilities, they will provide the essential data required for a well-rounded study. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is expected to deliver its findings to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor, following the nine-month deadline from the bill's commencement date.
