Gov. Mikie Sherrill Signed Law to Boost Nuclear Power in South Jersey New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a landmark law on Wednesday at the Salem nuclear plant, aiming to streamline the development of new nuclear energy projects in the state. The legislation, which modifies outdated regulations tied to radioactive waste disposal, seeks to position New Jersey as a leader in the so-called “nuclear renaissance” while addressing soaring energy costs and rising demand. Sherrill emphasized that the law would enable the state to harness its existing infrastructure and workforce to expand nuclear power, which she believes could lower utility bills for residents. The law targets a regulatory barrier that had previously blocked new nuclear permits by requiring an outdated standard for radioactive waste management, a requirement Sherrill described as rooted in 1970s technology. “It’s a textbook example of the kind of inefficient government I ran to change,” she said during the signing ceremony at the Salem County plant. The new framework allows for modernized waste disposal protocols, which Sherrill argued are essential to align with current technological capabilities and environmental safety standards. Support for the law came from bipartisan lawmakers, including Assembly member Cody Miller, a Gloucester County Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill. Miller highlighted the need for additional energy generation to address the state’s energy crunch, noting that nuclear power is “safe, clean, and reliable.” He argued that expanding nuclear capacity is critical to securing New Jersey’s energy future amid the growing demands from artificial intelligence and data centers. However, the law faced criticism from environmental advocates.#pseg #gov_mikie_sherrill #saLEM_nuclear_plant #new_jersey_dept_enviro #sierra_club_new_jersey
New Jersey becomes second state this year to lift its nuclear moratorium New Jersey has become the sixth state in the last decade, and the second this year, to fully repeal its moratorium on building new nuclear power stations. Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation ending an outdated radioactive-waste-disposal law that had blocked new projects. The Democrat, who campaigned last year on expanding nuclear power in the state, called the prohibitions obsolete. The law, enacted in the 1970s, required new projects to point to a method of radioactive waste disposal that did not exist at the time. It tied construction permits to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission establishing disposal methods, a condition Sherrill described as an "outdated standard that cannot be met." The legislation now allows projects to use safe, cutting-edge storage methods, which have been used thousands of times in over 35 states for the last 40 years with a 100% safety record. The Hope Creek Generating Station, located along the Delaware River in New Jersey, and the Salem Nuclear Power Plant, both owned by PSEG, are central to this shift. Combined, these facilities produce 40% of New Jersey’s electricity and 80% of its carbon-free power. The state’s moratorium, one of the nation’s earliest, was enacted when the U.S. was expanding its reactor fleet without a plan for radioactive waste. At the time, lawmakers amended the Coastal Area Facility Review Act to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish disposal methods before new construction could proceed. Federal efforts to address nuclear waste have been stalled since the 1980s, when Yucca Mountain in Nevada was designated as the first permanent repository. Work began in the 2000s under President George W.#new_jersey #salem_nuclear_power_plant #governor_mikie_sherrill #hope_creek_generating_station #pseg
