New Mexico’s bid to position itself as a leader in nuclear energy is facing a legislative hurdle. The resistance from some lawmakers persists even as they acknowledge the need for more power and cleaner energy sources.
Speaking at the “Nuclear in New Mexico” conference on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Meredith Dixon said the state has all the potential to be the leader “in all things nuclear energy,” referring to recent investments and the state’s access to national laboratories. She conceded, however, that the support from lawmakers and the public remains a roadblock.
The Clean Energy Association of New Mexico hosted the conference. It comes following renewed industry interest in New Mexico’s uranium deposits, and a growing pushback from communities and local officials. The state has hundreds of abandoned uranium mines, many of which are still hazardous.
“We still have a long way to go with education and discussion,” Dixon said. She cited the defeat of Senate Bill 78, which she co-sponsored with four Republicans earlier this year.
The proposed measure would allow the state to classify nuclear energy as an alternative source for utilities. A narrow 5-4 vote in the Senate Conservation Committee defeated the bill.
Dixon said the outcome highlights a larger standoff among lawmakers. “I think there’s a strong recognition… of some of the legacy issues and concerns by communities,” she said. There is also growing awareness of rising electricity demand from data centers and economic expansion, the lawmaker added.
The Democratic lawmaker pointed to recent state budgets, which she helped craft as vice-chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Lawmakers have earmarked $40 million to clean up legacy uranium sites over the past two years. The 2025 budget also established a $150 million research fund under the New Mexico Economic Development Department to support advanced energy technologies, including nuclear fusion.
These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy to build a “nuclear ecosystem” while addressing past harms, Dixon said. “[Fusion research] will go hand-in-hand with the cleanup and the building of a nuclear ecosystem here in New Mexico,” she explained.
Dixon remains unclear whether to reintroduce Senate Bill 78 in next year’s legislative session. She is hoping, however, that lawmakers will remain open to nuclear energy as a carbon-free alternative.
The lawmaker underscored advances in uranium extraction. She said modern technologies could make mining safer and less invasive, unlike in the past.
“The way that uranium is mined now is very different from what we saw in the past,” she said. “There are so many different technologies that can help us with our uranium supply that are under the radar.”