Congress has to act first before nuclear campuses take shape, US Energy secretary says

[Marlin]

Congress has to act first before nuclear campuses take shape, US Energy secretary says

https://lailluminator.com/2026/11/11/congress-nuclear/

[Core Content]

Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged that federal lawmakers must authorize a second permanent radioactive waste repository. The Department of Energy requires this legislative action to advance proposed nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses. Officials recently evaluated multiple state applications to host these integrated facilities.

Current federal policy relies exclusively on the stalled Yucca Mountain site in Nevada for permanent disposal. Expanding domestic nuclear capacity and fuel recycling depends on resolving the longstanding radioactive waste impasse. Without new congressional legislation, the administration faces severe hurdles in countering rapid nuclear expansion abroad.

The Trump cabinet's top energy official acknowledged Tuesday that Congress will have to approve the creation of a second U.S. nuclear waste disposal site before the administration's nuclear energy visions can become reality.

Chris Wright, secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, said he believes lawmakers back the agency's proposed nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses. The sites would encompass all aspects of nuclear energy production — from uranium enrichment to permanent storage of the end waste product.

"I think we have bipartisan support on the effort that we're doing, so we don't expect trouble getting that done," Wright said during a visit to Louisiana to announce a federal loan for energy exploration off the state's coast.

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