New Mexico Declares Victory Over Holtec Project
As Oklahoma explores the future of nuclear energy, neighboring New Mexico is celebrating a decisive win.
This week, Holtec International ended its long-running plan to build a temporary nuclear waste storage facility in the southeastern part of the state.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham praised the decision as a victory for public safety and state sovereignty.
“My administration fought hard to keep Holtec from storing nuclear waste in New Mexico, and today we officially prevailed,” she said.
“New Mexico is already doing its part at WIPP, and we will continue to resist becoming the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.”
How the Project Unraveled
The move follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed Holtec’s federal license. Despite that legal win, the company chose to abandon its plan, citing “an untenable path forward for used fuel storage in New Mexico.”
Holtec acknowledged that persistent opposition from the governor and the state legislature created significant barriers. In a July letter, the company described that resistance as a major “hindrance.”
“I’m glad Holtec heard our objections and realized this was a losing battle,” Lujan Grisham said. “We stand firm in protecting New Mexico from nuclear dumping.”
State and Industry Opposition
The proposed site, near Carlsbad and Hobbs, was once backed by former Republican governor Susana Martinez.
However, lawmakers passed a 2023 bill prohibiting temporary nuclear waste storage, effectively blocking the project.
Holtec maintained the state’s dry climate would protect metal storage canisters from corrosion, claiming it would save “hundreds of millions of dollars in aging-management costs.”
Despite that argument, resistance mounted—not only from New Mexico officials but also from oil and gas producers operating in the Permian Basin.
Oklahoma Energy Firms Also Opposed
Several major operators, including Oklahoma-based Devon Energy and Helmerich & Payne, joined the Permian Basin Coalition to fight the proposal.
Other members included Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, Diamondback Energy, EOG Resources, and Halliburton.
In a Nov. 1, 2023 letter, the coalition argued that the project threatened drilling operations and long-term regional development.
Their unified stance added pressure that helped derail Holtec’s efforts.
Broader Context for Oklahoma
The timing is notable. Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission is currently studying the feasibility of nuclear power development under a new state law.
While Oklahoma explores clean-energy options, New Mexico’s experience underscores how political, environmental, and industry factors can collide over nuclear projects.
Some Oklahoma oil and gas companies operating in the Permian Basin also opposed the project as OK Energy Today reported in November 2023.
