Legislative Overview
This legislation empowers the Ohio Nuclear Development Authority (ONDA) with the exclusive authority among all Ohio state agencies to engage in lobbying, deliberations, and litigation necessary to access the United States Nuclear Waste Management Funds (USNWMF). It authorizes ONDA to pursue these funds to support projects aimed at consuming, processing, or permanently storing Ohio's nuclear waste using advanced reactor technologies. Additionally, the bill permits ONDA to seek federal matching funds and, at its discretion, utilize the Ohio Attorney General's Office to support legal actions.
Alignment with Federal Priorities
This legislation aligns with President Trump’s 2025 executive order to end market-distorting subsidies for unreliable foreign-controlled energy sources and prioritizes the domestic development of nuclear infrastructure. By acting as Ohio’s sole legal and legislative representative in federal waste management negotiations, ONDA can advocate for the return of Ohio’s contributions to the USNWMF and ensure those funds support Ohio-based reactor projects.
