ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5517

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 19, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5517 (1R).

      As amended, this bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (board), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, to study, prepare, and submit, to the Governor and the Legislature, within 18 months of the effective date of this bill, a written report concerning the feasibility of developing advanced reactors throughout the State and the feasibility of, need for, and design of a program in the State for developing small modular or advanced reactors. 

      In conducting the study, the board is directed to: (1) determine suitable locations for deploying advanced reactors, including former industrial sites and retired fossil fuel generation facilities; (2) consult the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for regulatory and permitting requirements; (3) examine the economic viability and potential cost-saving mechanisms available for advanced reactors, including any federal programs, private investments, and State funding opportunities; (4) consider safety precautions and environmental impacts, including, but not limited to, compliance with applicable laws and regulators, emergency preparedness and response, biohazard waste management, cyber security, and water usage; (5) evaluate the ability to integrate advanced reactors with existing energy infrastructure and associated cost recovery mechanisms to pay for upgrades or other non-wire alternatives; (6) conduct a minimum of three public stakeholder sessions in order to assess public perception, environmental impact, and stakeholder value in Statewide development of advanced reactors; (7) provide a recommendation on the feasibility of, need for, and design of a program in the State for deploying advanced reactors Statewide; and (8) publish its findings on the board’s Internet website.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amends the bill to:

      1) revise the Legislative findings and declarations;

      2) revise certain definitions in the bill;

      3) stipulate that the bill will require the board to study the feasibility of advanced reactors rather than small modular reactors;

      4) include compliance with applicable laws and regulators and cyber security as a consideration for safety precautions and environmental impacts in deploying advanced reactors Statewide;

      5) add associated cost recovery mechanisms to pay for upgrades or other non-wire alternatives in the board’s evaluation of integrating advanced reactors with existing energy infrastructure; and

      6) require the board conduct a minimum of three public stakeholder session instead of public hearings in order to assess public perception, environmental impacts, and stakeholder value in the Statewide development of advanced reactors.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information is currently unavailable for this bill.