New Jersey took a significant step Wednesday to ease longstanding restrictions on nuclear energy by allowing the use of alternative storage methods for spent nuclear fuel. Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation permitting the state to approve waste storage systems beyond permanent federal repositories, effectively ending a de facto ban on new nuclear reactors that had been in place since 1977.

The previous regulation required nuclear plants to dispose of their waste exclusively in a federal repository, a facility that has never been constructed. This requirement stalled the development of new nuclear power plants in the state for nearly five decades. The new law now enables the approval of safe, on-site storage solutions such as dry casks, which store spent fuel in concrete containers after an initial cooling period in water pools.

“This is a textbook example of the kind of inefficient government I ran to change,” said Governor Sherrill, highlighting that many other states have adopted alternative storage methods with a “100% safety record.” New Jersey is the second state this year to lift restrictions on nuclear energy, following Illinois, which ended its moratorium in January.

Across the country, states with longstanding nuclear restrictions are reassessing their policies amid growing concerns about energy demand and climate change. Rhode Island recently allowed utilities to purchase electricity generated by nuclear power from neighboring states, while Oregon has initiated a feasibility study on new reactor construction.

The move in New Jersey addresses concerns that have long been raised by environmental groups about the challenges of storing radioactive waste, which some have described as an intractable problem. However, commercial operators have developed a two-step process: spent nuclear fuel is initially cooled in water pools for five to ten years and subsequently transferred to secure dry-storage casks maintained on-site. These methods are widely regarded as safe and pose minimal risk to workers and surrounding communities.

At the federal level, the issue of nuclear waste disposal remains unresolved. The Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada was designated as the national storage site in 1987 but has faced persistent opposition and was ultimately halted during the Obama administration. A federal audit concluded that political concerns, rather than technical or safety issues, influenced the cancellation.

Emerging technologies and international practices may offer additional solutions. Countries like France have successfully recycled spent fuel, recovering over 90 percent of its energy for reuse in reactors. Some U.S. startups are exploring similar approaches, viewing stored nuclear waste as a potential resource to help meet the nation’s increasing electricity needs.

New Jersey’s legislative change thus reflects a broader reconsideration of nuclear energy policy, balancing safety with the imperative to develop reliable, low-carbon power sources.