Rep. Mike Levin’s Statement on Department of Energy’s Announcement on Nuclear Waste and Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses

Rep. Mike Levin’s Statement on Department of Energy’s Announcement on Nuclear Waste and Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses | U.S. Congressman Mike Levin Skip to content I Want to Hear from You About Your Health Care Concerns. NEW: Rep. Levin Announces New District Data Map to Showcase Federal Project Funding. Close About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You Español Close Search Site SEARCH About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You MENU Español Search Instagram Icon Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Youtube Icon Bluesky Icon Home News Press Releases January 28, 2026 Rep. Mike Levin’s Statement on Department of Energy’s Announcement on Nuclear Waste and Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses Washington, D.C.— Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s Request for Information inviting states to weigh in on hosting Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses: “The Department of Energy is taking a meaningful and long-overdue step forward on spent nuclear fuel by inviting states to weigh in on hosting Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. For interested states, these campuses could deliver significant economic and job-creation benefits. The proposed campuses would support key functions across the nuclear fuel lifecycle, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and waste disposal. “I’m encouraged to see the Trump Administration taking community collaboration seriously by engaging states early, which follows expert analysis and international best practices — an approach I’ve advocated for years. “While experts have conveyed skepticism that reprocessing is the right answer for shutdown plants storing waste in canisters like SONGS, I am glad that these Innovation Campuses also include waste storage and disposal and recognize state interest in reprocessing and other aspects of the fuel cycle. But any credible proposal that comes out of this process must prioritize removing spent fuel from shutdown plants first and must account for fuel that isn’t commercially preferred for reprocessing. “This announcement lays important groundwork, but success will depend on reliable funding and long-term, independent management that extends beyond any single administration. I will continue pushing Congress to fund and modernize this program and amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act so this effort can actually deliver results.” Since entering Congress in 2019, Rep. Levin has secured over $248 million for the safe removal and management of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. Earlier this month, he wrote to DOE Secretary Chris Wright urging the Department to establish a safe, effective, and long-term management program for spent nuclear fuel. Rep. Levin has also introduced the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024 , which would modernize our country’s nuclear waste management program by establishing an independent Nuclear Waste Administration to manage the country’s nuclear waste. ### Print Email Share Tweet Next Article Previous Article About Serving You News Contact Issues Privacy Policy Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Youtube Icon Bluesky Icon