Senator Cynthia Lummis, Senator Mark Kelly, and Representative Byron Donalds introduced the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act on May 15. The legislation directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue a rulemaking that would permit commercial-grade concrete and steel for use in non-safety-related structures of nuclear power plants.
The bill aims to reduce costs and boost local hiring by removing requirements for nuclear-grade materials where safety is not impacted. Supporters say this could make building new nuclear plants faster and more affordable while maintaining safety standards.
“As nuclear technology evolves, our regulations should evolve with it,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “Requiring nuclear-grade materials in parts of a plant that have nothing to do with safety drives up costs and locks out local construction crews who are more than capable of doing the job. This legislation fixes that by requiring the NRC to allow commercial-grade concrete and steel where it’s safe to do so. I’m pleased to work with Senator Kelly and Congressman Donalds to get this done. The result is simple: lower costs, more local jobs, and zero compromise on safety.”
Senator Mark Kelly said, “We need more reliable, affordable power to keep up with growing demand in Arizona and across the country, but outdated rules about building materials drive up costs and slow down construction for nuclear plants. With this commonsense solution, we can build clean nuclear power plants faster and cheaper while keeping the same strong safety standards that protect Arizona families.”
Representative Byron Donalds said energy security is national security: “As our energy demands continue to grow, it is essential that nuclear energy is a viable source of base load power. We must take a hard look at outdated and burdensome regulations and make practical, common-sense reforms.”
Several organizations expressed support for the bill. Faith Burns from Americans for Prosperity called it “a reasonable and responsible manner” for addressing construction at nuclear facilities. Dr. Adam Stein from The Breakthrough Institute said regulatory requirements contribute significantly to high construction costs: “The use of commercial-grade concrete and steel in non-safety-related applications maintains rigorous safety requirements … while advancing a more performance-aligned regulatory approach.” Nick Loris from C3 Solutions Action noted cost differences between regular concrete used elsewhere versus federal requirements for reactors: “Nuclear-grade materials carry an enormous cost premium for little to no additional safety benefit.” Chris Koopman from Abundance Institute described it as “a practical step toward making it easier to build more nuclear power,” while Josh Smith from Pacific Legal Foundation said passing such bills helps remove barriers so American nuclear energy can expand.
Lummis has dedicated years to public service in Wyoming’s legislature as well as serving as state treasurer and U.S. representative; she has also championed responsible budgeting policies along with supporting Wyoming’s natural resources according to her official website.
Supporters believe changes like those proposed could help speed up new projects without compromising public health or environmental standards.
