New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed legislation Wednesday that ended a 40-year moratorium on building nuclear energy plants.
Nuclear power accounted for 52.7 percent of New Jersey’s electricity generation in 2024, the largest share of any energy source, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Natural gas accounted for 45.5 percent, and renewable energy was 1.8 percent. The state has two operating nuclear power plants and one that has been shut down and is being decommissioned.
“For costs to come down, we need more energy supply. New Jersey is well-positioned to be a leader in next-generation nuclear energy to help bring that supply, and we are open for business,” Sherrill said in a press release. “By lifting outdated barriers and bringing together leaders across government, industry, and labor, we’re setting the stage for our state to pursue new advanced nuclear power….