Stein Legislation to Establish Nuclear Development Authority Passes House

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives turned an eye toward the future when they voted in favor of the Advanced Nuclear Technology Helping Energize Mankind (ANTHEM) Act Wednesday. 

House Bill 434, sponsored by State Representative Dick Stein (R-Norwalk), will establish an Ohio Nuclear Development Authority with the Ohio Department of Development. The authority will consists of nine members appointed by the governor with input from industry groups. 

“In recent years, there has been a global shift in attitudes toward the development of new nuclear technologies to deploy scalable clean energy,” said Stein. “This legislation will bring Ohio to the forefront of advanced nuclear innovation and strengthen our domestic supply chains.”

The authority will be responsible for the development of advanced nuclear reactor commercialization, isotope production and nuclear waste reduction. 

The ANTHEM Act also aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s recently stated goals to enable continued operation of existing U.S. nuclear reactors, enable the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, develop advanced nuclear fuel cycles and maintain the U.S. leadership in nuclear energy technology.

“This legislation is a proactive measure to tell the federal government Ohio is here to be solution to find a clean, carbon-free energy source,” said Stein. 

House Bill 434 will now head to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.