President Petersen Files Lawsuit to Eliminate Regulatory Hurdles on Providing Arizonans Clean, Affordable, Reliable Nuclear Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

President Petersen Files Lawsuit to Eliminate Regulatory Hurdles on Providing Arizonans Clean, Affordable, Reliable Nuclear Energy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate President Warren Petersen is joining a coalition of states and energy companies in a lawsuit to eliminate regulatory hurdles when providing citizens with clean, affordable, and reliable nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMRs).

President Petersen, on behalf of the Arizona State Senate, joined a lawsuit filed on Monday evening in a U.S. District Court with Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Utah, and three nuclear energy companies asking a federal rule to be set aside to allow for the development of SMRs in the United States, without the same burdensome regulations applied to large nuclear reactors.

SMRs are small nuclear reactors that are faster and more affordable to build. They have the ability to provide around-the-clock carbon-free energy and are safer than traditional nuclear power plants, as they release close to zero radiation. The flexibility of SMRs allows them to be built in a factory then shipped and installed on-site, even in rural areas.

In the 1950s, Congress passed legislation contemplating that SMRs would not be subjected to the same restrictive and expensive licensing regulations as large nuclear reactors. Unfortunately, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission circumvented the wishes of Congress and unlawfully issued a rule requiring all nuclear facilities, regardless of size, follow the same burdensome standards. This antiquated rule has somehow survived for more than six decades.

"It's time to abandon this unlawful rule so the United States can implement this innovative solution in reliable, affordable, clean energy for our citizens," said President Petersen. "Arizona's utility companies want to pursue SMRs, but their hands are tied with red tape, as it could take decades and an unreasonable amount of money to establish plants under the current rule. I'm hopeful that through this litigation, we will be able to eliminate unnecessary and outdated regulations to unleash greater American energy production, as President Trump has promised is a top priority for his administration. This lawsuit is a first step on a pathway to energy independence."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov