New Jersey Seeks Public Input on 1,100 MW Advanced Nuclear Energy Plan

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Nov. 9 opened a public comment period on draft guidance establishing requirements for companies seeking to develop advanced nuclear energy projects in the state. The document will outline the process for the state’s initial review of proposed projects, including the standards developers must meet and the criteria regulators will use to assess their suitability.

The review marks the first step in implementing the Power NJ Act, signed into law in July 2026, which directs New Jersey to pursue at least 1,100 megawatts of new advanced nuclear capacity. The legislation requires proposed projects to deliver a net benefit to ratepayers, placing electricity costs and consumer protections at the center of the procurement process.

Under the proposed guidelines, developers will submit expressions of interest detailing their proposed reactor designs, licensing pathways, financing, anticipated costs, ratepayer impacts, workforce plans, community benefits and environmental effects. The board will assess the submissions and determine which projects, if any, merit provisional qualification. Only proposals reasonably likely to benefit ratepayers will advance to negotiations, with any resulting agreements requiring final board approval.

The guidance will shape the information available to regulators and stakeholders when assessing competing proposals, particularly their economic viability, potential community impacts, and implications for electricity customers. Public input at this stage will help determine how these considerations are incorporated into the evaluation process before developers formally submit their proposals.

The board is seeking comments from residents, ratepayers, community organizations, labor groups, businesses and industry through Dec. 4. A virtual stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Nov. 16.

Separately, the board, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection are conducting a statewide study on advanced reactor development, with stakeholder engagement expected to begin in 2027. A Nuclear Task Force will review the study’s findings and advise the state on policy, technical, workforce, financial and public engagement considerations. These efforts will inform New Jersey’s broader approach to evaluating the potential role of advanced nuclear technology in its future electricity supply.