(FRANKFORT, Ky.) — ( March 26, 2026)-Kentucky moved closer to entering the nuclear energy era Wednesday as legislation establishing a first-of-its-kind nuclear site readiness program cleared both chambers of the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s signature.
Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, would create the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program — a state-backed initiative designed to position Kentucky as a competitive destination for advanced nuclear reactor development.
The program would provide up to $25 million per approved project to help developers navigate federal permitting and licensing requirements. To protect taxpayers, the bill ties funding to surety bonds and milestone-based repayment. Final authorization for any project would remain with the Kentucky General Assembly, and early cost recovery would be tied to large industrial users rather than residential consumers.
“Other states like Texas and Tennessee have already made significant investments in nuclear development, so Kentucky must stay competitive amid nationwide growth of advanced reactors,” Carroll said. He added that the bill carries “no negative effect on taxpayers” and could ultimately bring tens of billions of dollars into the commonwealth.
Beyond site permitting, the legislation aims to forge partnerships among state agencies, utilities and private-sector partners, while requiring communities to achieve a “nuclear-ready” certification before a project can move forward.
The bill was carried in the House by Rep. Randy Bridges, R-Paducah, a fellow member of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. Bridges framed the legislation in stark competitive terms, arguing that nuclear energy represents both Kentucky’s chief competition and its greatest economic opportunity — particularly as advanced reactors increasingly reshape the national energy landscape.
Carroll is also pushing for funding support in the state’s biennial budget, which remains in free conference committee. The latest proposed budget includes up to $25 million per project in government expenditure funding to support nuclear siting and development.
If signed into law, the program would create what Carroll described as long-lasting economic opportunities across multiple regions of the state.
