Danielle McGrath: Nuclear is smart option for state’s energy needs

You’ve heard about how Indiana has taken an “all of the above” approach to energy. But what does that mean? How does it affect our ability to meet the growing needs of customers?

For Hoosiers, it means our electricity is generated by a mix of resources that includes coal, nuclear, natural gas, wind, solar, hydropower and battery storage. It’s a mix driven by economics and in line with the state’s energy priorities, resulting in Indiana having the lowest residential electric rates of the Great Lakes states and the second-lowest industrial rates based on December 2024 data from the Energy Information Administration.

This all-of-the-above strategy has also led to our being ranked ninth by Area Development Magazine for energy availability and costs. And we’re below the national average for electric rates overall.

While this strategy has served the state well, there’s renewed interest in how to accelerate new power generation and bring more nuclear energy to Indiana. We applaud Gov. Mike Braun and legislative leaders for recognizing the importance of energy and its direct connection to the state’s economic growth as they plan for the future.

While a portion of Indiana is already served by nuclear energy produced in Michigan, Braun has identified Indiana-based nuclear energy as a priority for the state. The industry is exploring federal grants to offset costs and engaging with our top-tier research institutions on how to do it.

Advanced nuclear technology through small modular reactors is revolutionary, in part because portions of these reactors are prefabricated off-site, thereby saving time and money in construction. They also offer improved safety features and significantly lower costs compared with traditional, large-scale nuclear power plants.

Legislators are establishing through Senate Bill 424 and House Bill 1007 a public-policy framework for the development of SMRs and making certain strong customer protections are in place. They’re also focused on transparency, ongoing review and scrutiny of the costs associated with new generation buildout.

Additionally, HB 1007 requires large power customers to pay their fair share when any new generation sources are needed and streamlines the regulatory process to allow the state to move at the speed of business when deploying much-needed critical infrastructure.

It’s clear change is on the horizon. Fortunately, it’s also clear that we have strong leaders at the helm who are focused on harnessing Indiana’s energy potential. As the energy industry, we are here to support it.•

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McGrath is president of the Indiana Energy Association.