The Governor of the US state of New Jersey has signed a bill ending a de facto moratorium on nuclear power plants within its state and has also launched a new Nuclear Task Force (New Jersey Governor press release, 08/04/2026).
The bill eliminates a requisite set on the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA), that blocked new permits for the construction and operation of new nuclear projects by requiring an approved method by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for radioactive waste disposal, which has been deemed as an outdated standard that cannot be met. With the new bill, projects with a NRC-compliant waste storage are eligible to have a permit for their development.
Considering the increasing demand of energy, New Jersey aims to become a leader in "next-generation nuclear energy" to supply rising electricity demand and keep utility costs under control. The new Nuclear Task Force will look promote nuclear energy through the negotiation with leaders from different sectors to explore opportunities to develop.