Indiana Gov. Mike Braun called a new partnership with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission a “major milestone” for the state and its commitment to energy reliability and affordability.
The governor and NRC Chair Ho Nieh announced that Indiana will be considered a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agreement State at a Thursday news conference. Braun said the agreement will benefit the state because it will lead to faster permit review times, better customer service, faster incident responses and lower regulatory fees.
“Decisions made here in Indiana, rather than in Washington, means Hoosiers have more control,” Braun said. “State control of the regulatory environment provides certainty, speed and efficiency. As demand for electricity continues to accelerate, the country will soon be divided into states that can deliver, and those who can’t.”
President Donald Trump has prioritized building the U.S. nuclear energy sector, Braun said, and he believes this is a “big opportunity” for Indiana.
“The most dependable way to lower prices for Hoosiers is to increase supply,” Braun said. “It’s a classic economic argument that makes sense. … Today’s agreement is a major step in Indiana’s energy strategy and will benefit Hoosiers for years to come.”
According to the NRC website, 40 states have an agreement with the commission, including Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Through the agreement, the NRC gives states the “authority to license and inspect byproduct, source, or special nuclear materials used or possessed within their borders.” Permit applicants will have to go through state agencies — including the Indiana Office of Energy Development or Indiana Department of Environmental Management — for approval rather than the NRC.
“The state has been working on this NRC agreement for over four years now,” said Suzanne Jaworowski, Indiana’s secretary of energy and natural resources, “preparing developing the infrastructure, the personnel to be able to have people here locally in Indiana deploy the safeguards and securities of what is the gold standard around the world for nuclear safety.”
Nieh said Thursday that he has full confidence in Indiana’s ability to uphold the NRC’s standards.
As the U.S. sees a boom in artificial intelligence data centers nationwide, Nieh said energy security is crucial. Nuclear energy is “seen as essential” to that security, he added.
“This is evident from the bipartisan support from Congress, the actions of President Trump, the increased support for nuclear energy by states, the substantial capital investment going into nuclear technologies, as well as the increased public support,” Nieh said. “The conditions are ideal for America to lead the world again in nuclear energy.”
Braun has been dedicated to bringing nuclear power to Indiana.
In November 2025, Braun announced that First American Nuclear would bring its headquarters, manufacturing facilities and an energy park to Indiana, according to Post-Tribune archives. First American Nuclear is dedicated to building small modular reactors, or SMRs, which are advanced nuclear reactors that have about one-third the generating capacity of traditional nuclear reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
During the 2026 legislative session, the Indiana House and Senate passed a bill that makes changes to Indiana Code about IDEM’s permit issuance process for nuclear facilities. Changes include repealing a prohibition from constructing or operating a nuclear facility without an IDEM permit and repealing the authorization for the commissioner to conduct a public hearing on the environmental effects.
Braun signed the legislation into law on Feb. 17, according to the governor’s website.
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