Five States Agree to Host Nuclear Waste Camps Under Trump’s Energy Plan

Key points

• Five states (Tennessee, Utah, Louisiana, Idaho, Oklahoma) agreed to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.
• The campuses will include waste storage, uranium enrichment, fuel reprocessing, and advanced reactor deployment.
• The Energy Department projects these sites could attract up to $50 billion in private investment and generate $10 billion in tax revenue.
• The plan addresses the backlog of nearly 100,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel currently stored across 30 states.
• The initiative supports President Trump’s goal to quadruple US nuclear power and build 10 new large reactors.

Background

This development follows the White House’s July 2026 draft proposal to partner with states for integrated fuel-cycle campuses, effectively moving away from Yucca Mountain as the sole repository. The new agreements formalize that strategy, replacing decades of political opposition to the Nevada site with a decentralized, state-led model that includes interim storage and reprocessing options.

Why it matters

The agreements mark a pivotal shift in US nuclear policy, moving from a single federal repository to a multi-state, economically incentivized model. By linking waste management to new energy development and data centers, the administration aims to resolve the long-standing waste disposal crisis while accelerating the expansion of nuclear infrastructure.

What to watch

The Energy Department will likely proceed with finalizing the legal and regulatory frameworks required to operationalize these campuses. Future developments may include additional state proposals and the commencement of construction for the first sites, contingent on resolving ongoing legal hurdles and securing the projected private investment.