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States invited to explore hosting NLIC facilities

The Department of Energy launched the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC) program by inviting states, through a request for information, to express their interest in hosting a facility that could support work from the front end to the back end of the fuel life cycle.

By April, 26 states had expressed interest in hosting such a facility, indicating broad initial engagement with the program’s concept.

DOE signs memorandums of understanding with five states

At the end of July, the DOE signed memorandums of understanding with five states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah—to more closely explore state-federal partnership possibilities.

The MOUs are described as exploratory rather than firm commitments from either the federal or state governments, with future selections dependent on whether any of the states develop projects through the program.

What happens next

The announcement frames the NLIC effort as a set of early partnership steps rather than decisions on specific facilities or projects. Over time, it will become clearer which, if any, of the five states move forward with NLIC-related proposals.

In the meantime, reporting highlights that Oklahoma and Louisiana have preexisting nuclear sector capabilities that could potentially support new fuel cycle developments, though the extent of any eventual role under NLIC is not stated in the source.

What the companies say they will do

Westinghouse and Amentum have signed AP1000/AP300 collaboration agreements as part of Westinghouse’s APX strategy, which aims to use a single technology platform across AP1000 reactors and the AP300 SMR.

Westinghouse said its ongoing collaboration with Amentum is expected to accelerate the licensing of the AP300 SMR with the NRC and that the two companies will work together to enhance engineering and execution capabilities for delivering 1 GW reactors at scale.

Amentum said its expertise spans the full spectrum of the nuclear project lifecycle, and that the collaboration with Westinghouse will support deployment of advanced nuclear solutions to meet demand for firm baseload power.

Regulatory approval focus for the AP300

Under the most recent agreement, the companies stated they "will collaborate to obtain regulatory approval for the AP300 SMR by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission".

Westinghouse framed the AP300 design as being based on the licensed and operating AP1000 pressurised light water technology, including major equipment, structural components, passive safety features, proven fuel, and I&C systems.

Westinghouse also said the AP300 is the first SMR based on an Nth-of-a-kind operating plant and aims to leverage Gen III+ technology that has already received regulatory approval in the USA, the UK and China and is in compliance with European Utility Requirements.

Broader context from Westinghouse’s market plans

The release places the agreements within Westinghouse’s broader deployment outlook and technology platform strategy.

Westinghouse last week filed a draft registration statement for a potential IPO.

Westinghouse’s co-owner Cameco said Westinghouse has a pipeline of deployment opportunities for 91 potential AP1000 reactors totalling about 105 GWe across global markets. The co-owner also referenced US opportunities supported through American Nuclear Supply Chain Loans announced by the US Department of Energy earlier this year, along with other partnerships announced in 2025, and the resumption of the two-unit VC Summer project.