A bill to create a state Office of Advanced Nuclear Energy in Oklahoma won approval this week in a House subcommittee.
Rep. Nick Archer (R-Elk City) authored HB3175 which was approved on a 4-3 vote in the House Appropriations and Budget General Government subcommittee.
Archer explained during the Monday hearing that his bill is looking to accomplish the establishment of nuclear regulatory framework which does not exist today.
“As a state, we need to begin establishing how nuclear regulatory framework would look within the state of Oklahoma because one that time comes, whether that’s two years or five years from now, we will not have time to create the frameworks that we need to create.”
The legislature in 2025 ordered a nuclear study to be carried out by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, a report which will soon be in the hands of legislative leaders and the governor.
Rep. Archer believes nuclear power is where a lot of power generation is headed.
“There are currently federal Supreme Court cases where the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is being challenged by the state of Texas and Utah,” he explained, suggesting that coming rulings could have an impact on Oklahoma.
His bill did not have the support of three legislators. They were Rep. Tom Gann (R-Inola), Rep. Jay Steagall (R-Yukon) and Rep. Max Wofley (R-Oklahoma City). Despite the opposition, there was no debate during the hearing nor were any questions asked of Rep. Archer following his explanation of the bill.