When Governor Greg Abbott launched the “Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group” in 2023, some wrote it off as something that could never pass the legislature. But with House Bill 14, which creates a new state office to expand nuclear energy and $350 million in construction grants, passed and placed on the governor’s desk for signature in early June, Abbott’s vision has taken a concrete step toward reality.
And not a moment too soon.
Texas is growing at breakneck speed. According to December 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas gained nearly 563,000 new residents in just one year, more than any other state in the country. The population now sits at roughly 31.3 million, with newcomers arriving from both across the U.S. and abroad.
This kind of growth is a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless. A booming population brings booming demand for energy. Homes, schools, hospitals, factories, and data centers don’t run on good intentions. They run on electricity — clean, consistent, and always available.
And that’s where nuclear power comes in.
Texas has long been proud of its energy dominance, with oil and gas at the center of our identity. And in recent years, wind and solar have added diversity to the mix. But nuclear energy remains one of the most underutilized pieces of the puzzle. Our two existing plants, Comanche Peak near Glen Rose and the South Texas Project in Matagorda County, generate over 5,000 megawatts of constant, carbon-free electricity. Unlike other energy sources, nuclear works day or night, rain or shine. It’s the kind of power that shows up every time.
That reliability is becoming more important by the day. While Texas has made progress strengthening its electric grid since Winter Storm Uri in 2021, vulnerabilities remain. In August 2023 alone, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued near-daily conservation alerts, warning of grid strain during heat waves. Texans were asked to cut usage to avoid rolling blackouts. Even in milder seasons, demand often skirts dangerously close to capacity.
The lesson here is that intermittent energy sources, while invaluable, can’t carry the load alone. We need dependable baseload power to maintain a strong, stable grid, and nuclear is the only zero-carbon source that fits that bill.
Governor Abbott and the Texas legislature recognized this need and responded. House Bill 14 establishes a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office and lays the groundwork for new technology that could serve rural communities, manufacturing corridors, and even military installations. It’s a smart bet on Texas’s future.
Of course, even after this bill takes effect, there will still be challenges. Nuclear projects require long-term investment, and today’s energy markets often reward the cheapest short-term source, not the most reliable long-term one. That’s why preserving policy tools like the federal nuclear production tax credit is essential — to level the playing field by ensuring nuclear is not unfairly left behind while other energy sources continue to receive so many subsidies and government support. Congress recently passed a bill protecting these credits, and now, Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are helping to see it through the Senate. They know that, beyond helping the state’s energy security, this tax credit bolsters the state economy because nuclear power contributes $1.4 billion to the state’s GDP annually.
Again, this isn’t about replacing oil and gas. It’s about adding another strong pillar to our energy foundation. Texas has always thrived on variety — on doing whatever is needed to power ahead. Nuclear fits squarely into that tradition.
With over half a million new residents arriving annually, and power demand rising alongside them, we can’t afford to stand still. We need power that’s not only clean and safe but there when we need it. The leadership of Governor Abbott, and the support of lawmakers at both the state and federal levels, are turning that need into action.
We’re not chasing the future, we’re building it. And creating reliable energy infrastructure that takes an all of the above approach to our state’s needs is playing a central role in that effort.
Matt Mackowiak is President of Potomac Strategy Group and served as Travis County GOP chair from 2017-2025.
