SE Valley Times

Under the leadership of Speaker Steve Montenegro and Majority Leader Michael Carbone, the Arizona House of Representatives has joined a multistate lawsuit against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The lawsuit aims to challenge federal licensing rules that are seen as obstacles to deploying advanced nuclear energy technology, such as small modular reactors (SMRs).

The Arizona House is aligning with Texas, Florida, Utah, Louisiana, and several U.S. nuclear companies in seeking to end what they describe as a federal blockade. This blockade allegedly hinders the construction of modern and safe nuclear facilities in the United States. The legal action targets an NRC rule that applies the same licensing requirements to small, ultra-safe nuclear reactors as it does to traditional full-scale nuclear power plants. The rule is said to misinterpret federal law by preventing newer technologies like SMRs from entering the U.S. energy market.

"This is a textbook case of Washington bureaucrats getting in the way of American progress," said Speaker Montenegro. "America is behind the modern world when it comes to nuclear advancement. We have had this technology for decades, yet the NRC has not let us advance, stifling innovation. Arizona House Republicans are pushing back. We’re standing up for American innovation, lower energy costs, and true energy independence."

Majority Leader Carbone emphasized the benefits of SMRs: "Small modular reactors are the kind of clean, reliable, American-made technology we should use to meet growing energy demand," he said. "‘They’re meltdown-proof, can be deployed when needed, and run on recycled fuel. But thanks to the NRC, these technologies can’t move forward while our competitors overseas surge ahead. That stops now."

Carbone further explained that this legal action is part of a broader plan by House Republicans: "The people of Arizona sent us to the Capitol to lead—and that’s exactly what we’re doing," he added. ‘This lawsuit is part of our broader House Republican Majority Plan to cut red tape, rein in unelected bureaucrats, and prepare Arizona for the next generation of energy innovation. Securing a reliable and affordable power grid for Arizona families while advancing U.S. manufacturing are top priorities. This lawsuit gets the federal government out of the way and allows SMRs, which are already being used or explored abroad, to power our burgeoning industries right here at home."

Information from this article can be found here.