State policy levers for advanced nuclear deployment
A nine-month research engagement at the LBJ School of Public Affairs examining what has worked in adjacent energy sectors — and how those levers can be adapted to accelerate the advanced nuclear ecosystem at the state level.
Five policy levers
Our research organizes proven state-level interventions into five interlocking categories. Each lever plays a distinct role in accelerating an advanced nuclear business ecosystem.
Financial Incentives
Tax abatements, grants, loan guarantees, and investment credits that materially reduce capital cost and de-risk early deployments.
Regulatory & Permitting
Siting reform, permit streamlining, environmental review coordination, and NRC pre-licensing collaboration.
Physical Infrastructure & Supply Chain
Fuel-cycle infrastructure, transmission, workforce housing, ports, and critical-material assurance.
Public Education & Community Engagement
Workforce pipelines, community colleges, public outreach, and risk-communication programs.
Governance & Economic Agreements
Interagency coordination bodies, state nuclear offices, community benefit agreements, and compacts.
Explore the research
Policy Lever Dashboard
Explore 140+ state policies across five sectors. Filter by state, lever, status, and top examples. Click any state on the map for a detailed view.
State Engagement Playbook
The full written analysis: five-part framework, five-sector benchmarks, lever-by-lever findings, and state engagement playbook recommendation for advanced nuclear developers.
State Policy Rolodex
Reference catalog of every policy we reviewed — with citations, statuses, and a one-line significance note for each.
Research Team
Five LBJ School graduate students conducted desktop research and coordinated interviews with policy, academic, and industry experts.