Grounded Podcast Episode 50: Oregon’s Nuclear Future
Explorations into nuclear power are making headlines, including in Oregon. Over the last few legislative sessions, there has been an interest in considering a new role for nuclear energy in Oregon.
Currently, a new nuclear power facility cannot be developed in Oregon without a permanent national repository for high-level radioactive waste being established and a vote by the people of Oregon.
In 2025, two bills related to nuclear power moved out of committee and into Ways and Means for funding consideration – further than these types of bills have gone in the recent past.
In this episode, we learn about the topics of the 2025 legislative session and Oregon’s nuclear future. We also hear from a company developing small modular reactors about their technology and potential roles for nuclear power.
Guests: Max Woods, ODOE Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Energy Security, and Dr. Jose Reyes, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of NuScale Power.
Additional Resources:
· Getting Grounded: Oregon’s History with Nuclear Power