BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana’s two nuclear power plants support about 20% of the state’s energy demands. With the advent of artificial intelligence, data centers, bitcoin mining, and other advancements in big tech, the energy needs are increasing and lawmakers are looking to position the state as a leader in that.
“It’d be nice to move to a 50-50 split,” Rep. Joseph Orgeron said.
Standing in the way is a nightmare of federal red tape and a multi-billion-dollar bill. Who pays that bill, whether it’s the industry or your utilities, could make a big difference.
“Yes, there is significant growth in AI and data centers, but what is their lifespan?” Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis said. “Because if a data center comes in 10 years and they found a cheaper way to do it and they move to China, now, we, the people of Louisiana are on the hook for the next 40 years for this nuclear power plant.”
Federal deregulation is part of President Trump’s America First Energy Policy and could signal a new tide for nuclear power.
Edward McGinnis is the CEO of Curio, a startup that promises to recycle 96% of nuclear waste made from a plant.
“We’re in a world now, especially with the new sheriff in town, full utilization, maximum utilization of our resources, all of the above resource approach and I agree with that approach,” McGinnis said. “That’s why my company is focused on being able to tap the full resources, not to throw away 96% percent like buying a Ferrari and filling it up with gas and after the first tank, throwing it away. It makes no sense.”
McGinnis spoke at the capitol on Tuesday, February 11, about the work Curio is doing around the country to get a nuclear recycle facility up and running. Their proposal would employ over 3200 people with an average salary of $125,000 a year, capturing the eyes of state lawmakers who are hoping for a similar investment here.
“Embracing nuclear advancements into Louisiana will give us a larger baseline load and that will ultimately allow energy providers to get a lower price to consumers,” Orgeron said.
Commissioner Lewis said that all depends on where the energy goes.
“The innovation makes sense. The technology is moving, but we may not be there just yet and that’s where I am saying let’s toy this thread a little bit before we go throw massive amounts of money that has significant risk and may go over cost, that we actually can get the value at this moment that we need and not harming ourselves in the future,” Lewis said.
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