North Dakota has selected Canadian developer Nucleon Energy to design a roadmap for its nuclear power plan. This marks a pivotal moment in the state’s long-term energy strategy. The roadmap covers a year-long assessment on site selection, federal licensing, cost modeling, and public engagement.
Nucleon’s scope also includes assessing workforce needs, and partnership frameworks with utilities and private investors. If all proves viable, construction and Small Modular Reactors (SMR) adoption in North Dakota could begin before 2030.
Pre-Construction Phase Factsheet
Location: North Dakota, USA
Lead Firm: Canada-based Nucleon Energy
Scope: Site selection, licensing, public engagement, workforce assessment & cost modeling
Timeline: 2025 – 2027. Potential construction before 2030
Proposed Technology: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Impact: Energy diversification, grid stability, carbon-free initiative
North Dakota’s Energy Mix
North Dakota is already among the leading states in U.S. oil production, is among the top ten wind energy producers by capacity in the states, is a major lignite coal basin, and has strong transmission corridors feeding Midwest markets.
Ideally, adding nuclear would enhance grid stability and help diversify beyond fossil dependence. This comes at a time when the strain on U.S. grids is clearly evident as flagged by the WSP Pulse Report 2025, which showed overwhelming public support for affordability, grid safety and modernization, and assessments on climate impact of using fossil fuels for energy generation.
Now serving as the fifty-fifth United States Secretary of the Interior, former North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum, has also consistently stressed on “energy dominance” and an expansion of America’s fossil fuel production. Burgum makes clear of this through pushing for fossil-fuels and his support for coal plants. Crowning this has been marked by events like the halting of the now resumed $5 billion Empire offshore wind project by Equinor off the coast of New York City. Despite all this, he also promised to make North Dakota carbon neutral by 2030.
North Dakota has already forged great steps in lignite coal, oil, and wind capacity. Nuclear, particularly SMRs, is now being considered to ensure grid reliability and long-term energy independence.
Nuclear in the U.S. Energy Market
North Dakota picking Nucleon Energy to lay groundwork for its nuclear power plan positions the state to join others like Michigan, Washington, Idaho, and Tennessee, where the nuclear market is already growing.
This decision also aligns and fits with federal ambitions under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The act allocates tax credits and loan guarantees for zero-carbon technologies, including nuclear.
Some investors, utilities, and even the Trump administration alike see SMRs and nuclear as a hedge against intermittency risks from wind and solar, while complementing gas and LNG projects such as the Alaska LNG mega-project now under review by Japanese buyers. Japan also plans to build a next-generation nuclear reactor at the 1,666 MW Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, marking the country’s first concrete post-Fukushima move towards the construction of a new nuclear reactor.
Key Quotes on North Dakota Nuclear Energy Plan
The program has also been met with positive energy from some legislators. “This is about securing our state’s energy future with safe, reliable, and affordable options,” said a member of the interim legislative committee overseeing the program.
“This is [also] about ensuring energy sovereignty for North Dakota,” said another legislative committee member. “SMRs can keep our economy competitive while meeting national decarbonization targets.”, the legislator added.
