Indy Standard

The Indiana House of Representatives has moved forward with legislation introduced by State Representative Ed Soliday, aimed at improving the state's energy infrastructure. The bill seeks to simplify the process for integrating new energy sources into Indiana's power grid, an initiative backed by Indiana House Republicans.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that nearly half of Indiana's energy consumption is attributed to the industrial sector, which includes steelmaking. Soliday, who chairs the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, emphasized the importance of meeting rising energy demands as more businesses establish operations in Indiana. House Bill 1007 proposes reducing entry barriers for companies interested in utilizing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) for energy generation.

"Indiana needs to make sure we are gradually enhancing our energy grid," stated Soliday. "With small modular nuclear reactors, our state can continue to grow while reinforcing the five pillars of energy policy, which are reliability, affordability, resiliency, stability and environmental sustainability."

SMRs offer compact energy solutions suitable for individual or multiple residential, commercial, and industrial sites. These reactors could provide substantial energy without overloading the existing power grid.

The bill will now proceed to the Senate for further deliberation. For additional information and updates on legislative activities, individuals can visit iga.in.gov.