Illinois Officials Evaluated Future Nuclear Energy Potential
Experts identified workforce shortages as a key challenge during a recent nuclear energy development webinar.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Nuclear
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The American Nuclear Society held a webinar to discuss the future of nuclear energy in Illinois, focusing on infrastructure and workforce needs. State officials and industry leaders examined potential expansion segments including new construction and reactor restarts.
Why it matters
Illinois requires increased power capacity to support incoming large load users. State policy efforts have actively boosted nuclear energy as a central pillar of the energy grid.
Constellation identifies four specific expansion segments: relicensing existing plants, uprates, restarts, and new construction. Industry panelists cite skilled trade shortages as the primary technical and labor bottleneck for these initiatives.
The players
American Nuclear Society
This is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of nuclear science and technology.
Constellation
This company is a major energy provider and operator of nuclear power stations.
Nano Nuclear Energy
This company focuses on the development of portable nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear technology.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
This independent federal agency oversees the safe use of radioactive materials and nuclear power.
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
This public research university is a major center for academic and scientific innovation in the Midwest.
The details
Grundy County, home to the Dresden power plant, has expressed interest in hosting a new facility as the state invites community inquiries. Meanwhile, the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign is partnering with Nano Nuclear Energy on a high-temperature gas-cooled research reactor.
Timeline
The University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign submitted a construction application during the spring of 2026.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission began a formal application review in June 2026.
The American Nuclear Society held a webinar regarding nuclear development on September 23, 2026.
Nano Nuclear Energy expects to begin research reactor construction in the second half of 2027.
The Big Picture
The proposed research reactor at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign navigates the formal Nuclear Regulatory Commission research reactor application process. This project marks a shift toward localized, high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology within an academic research setting.
Workforce training programs, such as those offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, provide paths for residents to enter high-demand skilled trades. These initiatives are essential for addressing the labor shortages anticipated during upcoming construction.
The takeaway
Expanding nuclear capacity requires both regulatory approval and a robust pipeline of skilled labor. Illinois residents interested in the sector can look to state-sponsored apprenticeship programs as the primary entry point into these projects.
What happens next
Nano Nuclear Energy is projected to commence construction of its research reactor during the second half of 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts in Illinois Nuclear.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ans.
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