Texas has created a new state office dedicated to advancing nuclear energy development, part of a $350 million investment aimed at strengthening the state’s power grid and positioning Texas as a leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
The Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, established by lawmakers in 2025, operates under the governor’s office and is tasked with coordinating nuclear energy projects, supporting research and development, and helping companies navigate regulatory and permitting processes.
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Jarred Shaffer as the office’s director, charging him with building partnerships among universities, private developers and federal agencies while accelerating the deployment of advanced reactor technologies across the state.
State leaders say the effort is focused on advanced nuclear systems, including small modular reactors and molten salt reactors, which are designed to be safer, more efficient and less costly than traditional nuclear plants.
The funding comes from the Texas Advanced Nuclear Development Fund, which lawmakers approved to support research, workforce training and early-stage project development. Universities including Texas Tech University and Abilene Christian University have already received funding for nuclear research initiatives.
Supporters of the office say nuclear energy could play a key role in meeting Texas’ rapidly growing electricity demand, driven by population growth, industrial expansion and energy-intensive sectors such as data centers.
Abbott and other state officials have emphasized nuclear power as a way to improve grid reliability following recent extreme weather events while also diversifying the state’s energy mix, which already leads the nation in wind power and oil and gas production.
Critics have raised concerns about the long-term costs, waste storage and regulatory challenges associated with nuclear energy, though supporters argue advanced reactor designs address many of those issues.
The new office will serve as a central hub for nuclear policy in Texas as lawmakers and regulators consider how the technology fits into the state’s long-term energy strategy.