Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is wasting little time in boosting nuclear energy development in his state, opening a $350 million program Wednesday to allow nuclear developers to apply for new state funding.
It’s a move to bring more power generation online to meet the expected demand for power from data centers. He calls it the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office (TANEO) which opened applications to increase advanced nuclear construction, strengthen nuclear manufacturing capacity, and lead America’s nuclear renaissance in the state of Texas.
“To power the Texas of tomorrow, we must boost our state’s advanced nuclear capacity,” said Governor Abbott. “Nuclear energy provides an efficient and reliable energy solution while creating high-wage advanced manufacturing jobs. Through TANEO and the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund, Texas is streamlining the nuclear regulatory environment and making investments to spur a flourishing nuclear energy ecosystem for generations to come.”
In June 2025, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 14 into law which established TANEO and created the $350 million Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund (TANDF), the largest nuclear investment in the country, to support the development and commercialization of the advanced nuclear energy industry, the nuclear supply chain, and its associated manufacturing capacity in the state.
Under TANDF, those advanced nuclear projects that build advanced reactors, strengthen the nuclear manufacturing capacity, and rebuild a domestic fuel cycle supply chain in Texas are eligible to apply for the Project Development and Supply Chain Reimbursement Program and the Advanced Nuclear Construction Reimbursement Program.
E&E News reported the plan arrived the same day the state Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee is holding a hearing to ask regulators and grid managers how they plan to connect large power users to the grid without causing outages or raising prices for residents and small businesses. Abbott said in a statement that the fund will help jump-start a new nuclear energy ecosystem in Texas.
Oklahoma has yet to develop a similar program although the Oklahoma Corporation Commission recently concluded a nearly year-long study of nuclear power development in the state. The report was submitted to Gov. Kevin Stitt and leaders of the legislature.