First American Nuclear and Indiana leadership announced Tuesday that the company will bring its headquarters, manufacturing facilities, and an energy park to the state.
“Indiana is leading the nation in the next chapter of American energy independence,” Gov. Mike Braun said in a news release. “With First American Nuclear planting its roots here, we’re bringing 5,000 high-paying, generational Hoosier jobs while cementing our state as a leader in clean, reliable nuclear power.”
### What is First American Nuclear?
First American Nuclear is a company dedicated to building small modular reactors, or SMRs, which are advanced nuclear reactors that have about one-third the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The company’s energy park is designed to be the first “closed-fuel cycle” in U.S. history, meaning it will reprocess and reuse spent nuclear fuel on-site, eliminating 97% of long-lasting nuclear waste.
EAGL-1, the reactor planned to be used, can create more fuel than it burns, according to First American Nuclear. This capability positions the energy to be classified as clean and renewable.
“In the flurry of America’s nuclear renaissance, Indiana and FANCO found a shared commitment to technical merit, authenticity, and follow-through,” said Mike Reinboth, CEO of First American Nuclear. “Collectively, our team has dedicated centuries to nuclear science, resulting in an unmatched nuclear solution that, fittingly, will take root in the crossroads of America.”
### Opposition and Concerns
Kerwin Wilson, executive director of the Citizens Action Coalition, expressed skepticism about nuclear power’s ability to meet Indiana’s energy demands. He also questioned claims about its cleanliness.
“They are not even close to being cost-effective with other fuels and technologies, not to mention that they are years away from being commercially available, if they ever will be,” Wilson stated. “They are not a solution to meeting the growing electric demand. Affordable, clean, and truly safe technologies, like wind and solar, are available today. There’s no need to squander billions in ratepayer and taxpayer money down the nuclear rabbit hole and expose our communities to the inherent dangers and risks of the nuclear fuel cycle. There’s a better path forward.”
Similarly, Ashley Williams, executive director of Just Transition Northwest Indiana, called SMRs “a fantasy of the nuclear industry” and a false solution.
“Indiana’s so-called energy priorities are nothing short of shameful,” Williams said. “These aren’t the priorities of everyday Hoosiers. They’re the agenda of Big Tech Billionaires, cashing in on the data center boom that is actively extracting from our communities and displacing our workforce in places like my community of Michigan City and across the country.”
### Supporting Studies and Site Selection
A Purdue University study, funded by the Indiana Office of Energy Development and released in November 2024, found that SMRs can release carbon-free electricity with the capacity to meet Indiana’s growing energy needs. The study also evaluated multiple coal plants as suitable sites.
Purdue received $300,000 to complete the report, according to the state’s Transparency Portal.
In the study, RM Schahfer in Jasper County was identified as a suitable site. Two other NIPSCO plants—Bailly in Porter County and Michigan City’s plant in LaPorte County—were also considered; however, Bailly was deprioritized, and Michigan City was deemed “too populated” and unsuitable for SMRs.
### Company Plans and Timelines
A spokesperson for First American Nuclear shared via email that the company is currently seeking sites for its corporate headquarters, manufacturing facility, and energy park, although no final decisions have been made.
Construction for both the manufacturing and energy park sites is expected to begin in 2028.
Regarding economic and tax incentives, the spokesperson declined to provide specific figures but stated that the company is benefiting from incentives offered to all Indiana businesses. These include tax credits for builders of SMRs and research and development initiatives.
“Indiana has a highly business-friendly environment, affordable cost of living, advantageous central location, and deep pool of tech talent,” the spokesperson said. “It’s premature to provide actual numbers, but First American Nuclear is benefiting from incentives offered to all Indiana businesses.”
### Utility Perspective
In a January statement, NIPSCO said it is amid a multiyear plan to close its coal-fired generating stations and replace them with more cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable sources, including wind, solar, and battery storage.
In 2024, NIPSCO conducted four Requests for Proposal (RFP) events covering all fuel sources but did not receive any proposals for SMR projects, according to Post-Tribune archives. The utility received a total of 116 proposals.
NIPSCO was unavailable for immediate comment regarding First American Nuclear’s plans or whether any of its facilities might be considered for nuclear power.
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As Indiana embarks on this next chapter of energy development, the debate continues between proponents advocating for advanced nuclear technologies and opponents urging investment in existing renewable solutions. The coming years will reveal how these initiatives shape the state’s energy future.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/04/first-american-nuclear-plans-to-bring-smrs-to-indiana/
