Oklahoma regulators report they recently held another non-public meeting where nuclear energy was one of the topics of discussion. Under a new law, they have nine months to conduct a study of the use of nuclear powewr in the state.
A form filed Tuesday revealed the three Corporation Commissioners, Kim David, Brian Bingman and Todd Hiett, met privately with staffers last Wednesday, July 23. The meeting started at 10:20 a.m. and ended at 11:10 a.m. and was held in the Will Rogers Memorial Office Building on the state capitol grounds.
Commissioners were given an update by Brandy Wreath, Director of Administration, regarding an “upcoming Nuclear Feasibility Study” and an update on the federal orphan well plugging grant status as well as “recent federal guidance changes to the IIJA orphan well plugging grant.”
Wreath also gave an update on efficiencies made to the protest docket and there was discussion of process service by OCC staff and the need to designate process servers. He also reported on recent staffing changes affecting IT, programmers, developers, and on the job posting for an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge.)
There was also an update provided from Commissioner David concerning her meeting with Energy Secretary Jeff Starling regarding Nuclear Feasibility Study, state permitting reform, and the OCC’s protest docket.
It was in June when Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 130 into law. Authored by Senator George Burns, R-Pollard, the measure directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to commission a comprehensive feasibility study on nuclear energy generation in the state.
SB 130 requires the Commission to initiate a contract with an external firm within 90 days of the bill’s effective date. The study will assess both technical and legal aspects of implementing nuclear energy production in Oklahoma. The process will bypass traditional state procurement requirements and instead follow procedures typically used to retain expert witnesses, ensuring timely and specialized evaluation.
“The potential for nuclear energy in Oklahoma is a conversation that’s long overdue,” said Sen. Burns when the governor signed the bill. “This study will give us the data we need to make informed decisions about energy diversification, reliability, and long-term sustainability for our state.”
The measure was carried in the House of Representatives by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow.
“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. “Senate Bill 130 directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to do a nuclear energy feasibility study for our state. A nuclear energy feasibility study is a critical first step for any state exploring this industry, which we hope will provide a comprehensive analysis of the risks, costs and benefits, ensuring that decisions about our state’s energy future are based on solid data and research.”
The Commission will also be tasked with collaborating with retail electric suppliers and municipally owned utilities to provide essential data for the study. Findings must be submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Governor within nine months of the bill’s effective date.
Others who attended the non-public meeting were:Jeff Kline (Legal Advisor to Commissioner David), Erica O’Neal (Regulatory Assistant/Paralegal to Commissioner David), Jared Haines
(Administrative Aide to Commissioner Bingman), Louis Jackson (Advisor to Commissioner Bingman), Nicole King (Legal Advisor to Commissioner Hiett), and Brandy Wreath (Director of Administration)
It had been nearly a month since the corporation commissioners last held a meeting where the public is not notified and not allowed to attend.
