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President Trump has made a great decision by naming Oklahoma as a potential site for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. As energy demand continues to grow, Oklahoma's long history of domestic energy innovation makes our state well-positioned to continue leading the nation in developing affordable, reliable, and secure American energy.

Oklahoma's legacy is national energy leadership—and we're ready to power America's next chapter. Today's advanced nuclear technology is safe, secure, and built for the future. As we explore a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, winning local support is essential. I look forward to working alongside federal partners and our local communities to ensure complete transparency, safety, and maximum economic benefit for Oklahomans.

Oklahoma has always been on the leading edge of being involved in energy, and I think this is a great example. Modern nuclear energy can be done safely; we've learned to do it safely. And this is another opportunity for Oklahoma to take all its great talents and its capabilities and bring it to bear on bringing nuclear—modern nuclear energy technology further forward... In our country today, we have got to learn to be smarter about how we manage nuclear energy, and these are campuses that will be all the way through the life cycle of, and not just—not just storing spent nuclear rods, but actually making valuable product out of them. To a lot of people, I know that's going to sound like, 'Wow, this is scary, we shouldn't even touch this.' The truth is, it can be handled safely. And the states that are smart about making sure that the environmental protections are in place and that it's done correctly, there's a huge opportunity here for our country. Today, our answer is to just continue to store at Yucca [Mountain]—that is not sustainable. And so on the one hand, when people say that nuclear energy is the future, but they don't have an answer for that, we're really kind of kidding ourselves. So, great opportunity for Oklahoma to show how innovative it can be. And I would hope that people would stop and educate themselves on the opportunity before they draw conclusions on this issue.

I am thrilled to see Oklahoma among the finalists for a DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. Our state has a proud heritage of leading in the energy industry and this campus would help expand that dominance. These innovation centers will perform critical research on nuclear energy while bringing thousands of quality jobs and billions in investments to our great state.

Oklahoma has been America's energy state for more than a hundred years, and we're not slowing down now.

Oklahoma has long been a national leader in energy production, and this designation would reinforce our state's role in shaping America's energy future. With abundant land, a skilled workforce and existing energy infrastructure, Oklahoma is uniquely positioned to support the next generation of nuclear technology. This investment will strengthen our economy, create high-quality jobs and enhance our nation's energy security. I also want to thank Rep. Nick Archer for his tireless work to elevate Oklahoma's strengths on the national stage and help make this designation possible. Our message to federal leaders and private industry is clear: Oklahoma is ready to lead the next generation of nuclear innovation.

Being named a finalist is an exciting opportunity for Oklahoma and a testament to the strength of our state's energy industry, workforce and innovation. But this isn't the finish line, it's the beginning of the final stretch. We intend to compete aggressively, continue making our case and show the nation why Oklahoma is the best place to build the future of advanced energy.

The Legislature does not write letters like this for every economic development proposal. We are doing it for this one because we have been building toward it. In 2025, we directed the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to conduct a comprehensive nuclear energy feasibility study. That study was completed and delivered to legislative leadership earlier this month, involving more than twenty organizations. The conclusion was clear: nuclear development in Oklahoma is feasible. We commissioned the study because we believed that would be the answer. We were right, and now we intend to act on it.

Source: Their joint letter of support, below

This is the kind of opportunity that can reshape a generation. National labs and research campuses don't just create jobs. They become economic engines that attract talent, launch new companies, drive private investment, and position states at the forefront of innovation. If Oklahoma is selected, we'll have the chance to help lead America's nuclear renaissance while creating thousands of high-paying careers and strengthening our state's energy future. Let's go win this.

This is exciting for our state to be chosen as a finalist. This is part of Oklahoma's energy heritage. We've been a national energy leader for over a century with oil, natural gas, adding wind, solar and now possibly nuclear. It is expanding the chapter of who we already are as Oklahomans. With this, we will continue to be a leader in innovation and research. This could bring billions of dollars of private sector investment and thousands of jobs in many fields, such as construction, operations, science and engineering. I appreciate the legislative groundwork that has been laid by numerous lawmakers, which has paved the way for the potential arrival of nuclear energy in the state of Oklahoma.

Source: Press release

With today's announcement, Oklahoma is officially a top contender for a groundbreaking nuclear research facility that would bring billions of dollars in private investment to this state and build on our legacy of energy innovation. We will do everything we can to show Oklahoma is ready for the development of a state-of-the-art facility to establish this state as a hub for the future of nuclear energy. Oklahoma has become known for its cutting-edge advancements in aerospace, technology and national defense, to which safe, secure and reliable nuclear technology will further elevate our standing.

This federal initiative is about innovation, economic opportunity and energy security. America's commercial nuclear industry has operated safely for decades under strict oversight from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and any project considered for Oklahoma would be required to meet those same high standards. If Oklahoma is ultimately selected for this hub, communities, landowners, local officials and residents will all have a seat at the table as decisions are made. We want Oklahomans to understand the opportunity before us and have confidence that any project will be developed responsibly.

Reported, not a direct quotation.

Senator George Burns said the project would build on Oklahoma's energy economy and noted he authored legislation directing a state study on the feasibility of nuclear energy generation.

It really is an Oklahoma solution to a national issue.

The Department of Energy couldn't ask for a better partner dedicated to advancing the future of American energy than Oklahoma. Our state has long been an energy powerhouse, leading the nation in oil and natural gas while also ranking among the top producers of renewable energy. Adding nuclear to that portfolio is a natural next step. We look forward to working with communities across the state to identify a partner excited to work with the DOE and invest in the next generation of nuclear innovation.

We come to this not as passive observers, but as institutional partners who have already invested in this work. Both were named contributors to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's nuclear feasibility study, completed in March 2026 — a nine-month, twenty-plus organization undertaking that examined the full scope of nuclear development potential in Oklahoma. Our faculty and researchers contributed substantively to that effort, and we intend to remain active at that table as the state's Innovation Campus effort moves forward.

Source: Their joint letter of support, below

These Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses will be massive generators of economic growth. This innovative concept is a direct result of @POTUS' leadership and ambitious directives to restore America's domestic nuclear fuel cycle and get the U.S. nuclear industry growing again.

For too long, America's nuclear fuel cycle was incomplete, fragmented, and overly dependent on foreign sources, undermining our energy security and holding back a true nuclear renaissance. @POTUS and @SecretaryWright's leadership is finally fixing it. Today, @ENERGY selected Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho as the initial contenders for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.

U.S. Department of Energy's @GovNuclear announced today five states as potential host states for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses (NLIC). "This is an important step in evaluating how the United States can strengthen its nuclear fuel cycle and expand domestic nuclear capabilities," said ANS President Mark Peters. "ANS and its members stand ready to help state leaders and local communities address the technical questions ahead." As states move forward with considering NLICs, ANS members are available to answer technical questions, participate in public meetings, and serve as independent scientific resources. Visit ans.org/nlic for more info and additional resources.

Scaling advanced nuclear requires coordination and investment across the full nuclear lifecycle: power, fuel, recycling, and long-term stewardship. @ENERGY's Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus effort is one of the first programs to bring the whole nuclear lifecycle together. States including Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho are stepping up with serious proposals to host that full stack infrastructure and the jobs and innovation that come with it. That's exactly the kind of forward-looking, transparent competition we need to unlock real advancement in advanced nuclear. Thank you to the Administration, DOE, and the states investing in our country's nuclear renaissance. Getting this right means more than new projects on a map, it means building durable, integrated nuclear ecosystems that can deliver for Americans. We're excited to keep working with partners who are ready to invest in full-stack nuclear deployment.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus initiative recognizes that expanding nuclear energy also requires a comprehensive plan for managing used nuclear fuel and other high-level waste. The initiative invites states to explore voluntary State-Federal partnerships supporting activities across the nuclear fuel cycle, from fuel production and advanced reactors to the permanent disposal of used nuclear fuel. Deep Isolation welcomes this effort and stands ready to support states as they evaluate Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus opportunities. Our patented deep borehole disposal technology and Universal Canister System (UCS) support an end-to-end approach for managing used nuclear fuel that can be integrated into broader nuclear development plans from the beginning.

This is what energy dominance looks like. Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses mean American fuel, American jobs, and American manufacturing — curbing reliance on hostile foreign supply chains. Props to @POTUS and @ENERGY for advancing energy independence.