Energy

Advanced nuclear energy could be Oklahoma’s next great industry

November 2, 2026

Jonathan Small

For more than a century, Oklahoma has built its economy around energy innovation, particularly oil and natural gas. Now advanced nuclear energy could be the state’s next major industry.

Under a new U.S. Department of Energy initiative, Oklahoma is one of six states being considered to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, or NLIC. The campus would serve as an advanced-manufacturing center and energy hub, bringing together small modular reactors, fuel production, recycling, and long-term waste management in one site.

For Oklahoma families, that could mean thousands of new jobs and a stronger economy for decades. Tulsa-based Occlusion Nuclear Solutions, one of the companies involved in Oklahoma’s proposal, estimates the project could create between 10,000 and 15,000 jobs. The Department of Energy says a fully developed campus could eventually attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, support nearly 25,000 jobs, and generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue.

A 2026 study noted there were no technical barriers to nuclear projects in Oklahoma, concluding that the state’s experienced oil, gas, aerospace, and precision-manufacturing workers already possess many of the skills required for advanced nuclear development.

State and educational officials are also excited to train the next generation of Oklahoma energy specialists. State Sen. Lonnie Paxton noted that an NLIC could open a major new professional field for Oklahoma’s K-12 CareerTech system and universities. For young Oklahomans interested in the skilled trades, that would mean more opportunities to build well-paying careers close to home.

Nuclear work is not entirely foreign to Oklahoma. Several nuclear-fuel processing facilities once operated here. Furthermore, the proposal being developed today looks very different from nuclear projects of yesteryear.

Crucially, Oklahomans will have a say long before anything is built. Questions about water use, transportation, and protections for the surrounding area can be asked and answered before any final decisions are made. Every facility would still have to pass federal licensing and safety reviews.

Also, the campus could help solve a decades-long national problem: how to make use of spent nuclear fuel while safely managing what remains.

More than 90% of nuclear fuel’s potential energy remains after it leaves a reactor. Advanced recycling could recover usable material and turn it into new fuel, leaving less for permanent disposal. Combined with fast reactors, the fuel already stored around the country could provide enough electricity to meet today’s demand for more than a century.

For generations, Oklahoma has helped find new ways to power the country. An NLIC would carry that tradition into advanced nuclear energy while creating high-paying jobs, putting America’s used nuclear fuel to productive use, and opening new opportunities for the state.

And Oklahoma can achieve those goals while also securing strong protections for our families, communities, and land.

Photo credit: Oklo Inc.