A Jonesboro lawmaker plans to sponsor new legislation aimed at strengthening Arkansas’ role in nuclear energy development amid growing demand for sustainable power sources.
Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro, announced his intention to introduce the Arkansas Nuclear Competitiveness Act in the upcoming legislative session. The legislation would establish and fund a state office for nuclear energy development—a position that has existed in name only since the 1950s but has never received staffing or resources. Ladyman shared the news with *Talk Business & Politics* following the release of an August 6 study by EXCEL Services Corporation, which recommended the proposal.
The study was commissioned under Act 707 of 2025, legislation Ladyman also sponsored. The forthcoming bill would expand the responsibilities of the state’s “atomic coordinator,” provide staff support, designate nuclear power as clean energy, and align Arkansas statutes with federal programs. Such changes are designed to enable Arkansas to compete for federal grants and projects related to nuclear energy.
Ladyman, who previously worked as an engineer for General Electric, cited Arkansas’ existing resources as evidence of the state’s potential as a leader in nuclear energy. Arkansas is home to Arkansas Nuclear One, a power plant near Russellville and one of 57 nuclear sites in the United States. Additionally, Arkansas Tech University offers a nuclear technology degree program, providing a pipeline of trained professionals for the industry.
Earlier this year, Arkansas unsuccessfully applied to host a federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus but was among six states invited to attend a related Energy Communities Alliance meeting in Chicago. The gathering offered opportunities for collaboration and future partnerships in advancing nuclear energy initiatives nationwide.
Ladyman pointed to the closing of coal plants and the aging of existing reactors as reasons why the state should position itself as a key player in the nuclear energy field. "Nuclear power has the potential to meet growing energy demands while reducing emissions," he stated in the interview.
The proposed act also seeks to leverage Arkansas’ eligibility for federal clean energy funding programs, providing an economic incentive to advance nuclear projects while transitioning the state’s energy infrastructure toward sustainability.
As the state continues to explore its role in the evolving energy landscape, Rep. Ladyman’s initiative positions Arkansas as a potential leader in one of the most stable and scalable forms of clean energy.