US states race to host $50B nuclear campuses, promising jobs and energy security

South Carolina and Tennessee are competing to host Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses (NLIC) as part of a federal push to boost nuclear energy development. These campuses could attract up to $50 billion in private investment, create tens of thousands of jobs, and strengthen US energy security by integrating all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. South Carolina aims to develop its Savannah River Site into a nuclear industrial hub, while Tennessee leverages Oak Ridge's long nuclear history and private projects like Oklo's $1.68 billion fuel recycling facility. These efforts are expected to accelerate advanced reactor commercialization and build a resilient domestic nuclear supply chain.