Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025

Key Points

• Nuclear plant owners would have to talk with nearby States, Tribes, and local leaders before they file their shutdown cleanup plan or sell the plant’s license.
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission would have to approve the cleanup plan or license sale within about 1 year, after at least 90 days for public comments and 2 public meetings in the host State.
• Host States could support, oppose, or support with changes; the agency would usually have to include the State’s requested changes unless they break the law or cost far more than the benefits.
• It creates new funding to help communities follow the cleanup: up to $12.5 million over 2026–2028 for community advisory boards, plus a longer-term fund paid by $500,000 fees from plant shutdown plans.
• Communities stuck storing spent nuclear fuel after shutdown would get yearly grants worth $15 per kilogram, and host towns would get economic development money funded by setting aside about 2% of the plant’s cleanup trust funds.