On July 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of potential host states for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, integrated, full-cycle nuclear ecosystems. Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah were chosen for the federal-state partnerships. Tennessee co-chairs the NASEO Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, an effort to advance next-generation nuclear technologies. Louisiana and Utah are participating states, and Idaho serves as an observer.
DOE’s announcement follows DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses Request for Information (RFI), released in January 2026, to determine state interest in hosting Innovation Campuses. Anticipated to attract investment, manufacturing, and new jobs, potential campuses could allow for fuel fabrication and enrichment, deployment and generation, colocation, and managing used nuclear materials.
“I’m pleased to announce that after reviewing 28 applications from 26 states, the Energy Department has selected five initial contenders to further explore building Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” Secretary Wright said. “These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance. The innovative concept is a direct result of President Trump’s leadership and ambitious directives to restore the domestic nuclear fuel cycle and get America’s nuclear industry growing again.”
Memorandums of Understanding were signed by the states selected and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, signaling an effort to continue exploring opportunities and state hosting capacity for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. States that finalize negotiations for an Innovation Campus will sign hosting agreements with DOE at a later date.