Energy Updates

Yes, Build Small Modular Reactors in Delaware

By David T. Stevenson, Director
Center for Energy & Environmental Policy
September 30, 2025. (updated 9/30/2025)

 

 

To determine whether it is wise to build nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) in Delaware, the state's Nuclear Energy Task Force must answer a list of questions. Many of those answers are already clear: we can and should build SMRs in Delaware.

 

Technical and Logistical Feasibility

 

In 2023, Dr. Kathryn Huff, then the U.S. Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, briefed Delaware's Governor's Energy Advisory Council on the administration's push to repurpose closed coal and natural gas-fired power plant sites for SMRs. Such sites are already industrially zoned, offer ample acreage, and have valuable transmission interconnections.

 

Potential Delaware sites include the Indian River Power Plant in Millsboro, which closed in February 2025 after nearly 70 years of operation, and the Edge Moor facility near Wilmington, commissioned in 1954 that may be for sale by Constellation Energy as early as November. Both are industrially zoned properties with transmission infrastructure that could be repurposed.

 

Long-Term Economic Costs and Benefits

 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) 2025 Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) report projects the average LCOE from new advanced nuclear at $81.45 per megawatt-hour (MWh), compared with $106.15/MWh for offshore wind without the 30% federal tax credit. Nuclear plants have much longer expected lifetimes - industry estimates suggest 60 to 80 years for nuclear compared with about 20 years for offshore wind.

 

Delaware's import dependency underscores the need for new in-state generation. According to the EIA's Electric Power Monthly, in 2024, Delaware imported approximately 57% of its electricity, or 6.3 million MWh. Replacing that supply would require roughly 750 MW of nuclear capacity.

The potential economic impact is substantial.

 

A University of Tennessee study estimated that a 300-MW SMR would generate $1.4 billion in construction spending, along with $98.5 million annually in operations and 717 jobs. Extrapolated to 750 MW, this translates to approximately $3.5 billion in construction costs, $250 million annually in operational expenses, and roughly 1,800 permanent jobs. While those numbers are specific to Tennessee, they illustrate the scale of opportunity Delaware could see.

 

Climate and Air Quality Benefits

 

Nuclear power is carbon-free. Based on PJM's 2025 system emissions rate of 0.39 tons of carbon dioxide per MWh, eliminating Delaware's imported fossil-based electricity would cut about 2.5 million tons of CO? annually. It would also prevent roughly 950 tons of nitrogen oxides and 1,200 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions each year - pollutants that contribute to smog and respiratory illness.

 

Regulatory and Permitting Requirements

 

Any nuclear project would require a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC has begun issuing permits in only 18 months. Those permits will have safety and preparedness requirements spelled out. County zoning permits would be required. State requirements need to be determined, but would likely include a DNREC permit similar to any major construction project.      

 

Financial feasibility could be enhanced if Delaware lawmakers allowed nuclear generation to qualify for the same credits currently offered to renewable projects. That policy step could help reduce construction costs and level the playing field.

 

Practical Construction Timelines

 

Globally, about 1,100 MW of SMRs are under construction with projected timelines of five to six years. By comparison, many U.S. offshore wind projects are not expected to be fully operational until the 2030s. For a state facing import dependence, nuclear power offers a more predictable schedule. Seventy-five percent of the U.S. Wind offshore wind project is not scheduled to be operational until 2031.

 

Reliability Advantages

 

Nuclear power is the most reliable source of energy generation. The U.S. fleet averages a capacity factor above 90%, meaning reactors operate nearly continuously, with planned downtime scheduled in the spring and fall when electricity demand is lowest. Offshore wind, by contrast, produces power about 40% of the time and only when weather conditions cooperate.

 

Addressing Spent Fuel Concerns

 

Nuclear fuel recycling can reuse up to 95% of spent material, a process already in use in countries such as France. While the U.S. has not yet implemented full-scale recycling, federal legislation is under discussion to expand recycling and establish long-term storage facilities. These policies would ensure secure domestic fuel supplies and reduce waste concerns. My analysis covering spent fuel can be read here.

 

Conclusion

 

Delaware faces a choice: continue importing more than half of its electricity, or take control of its energy future with reliable, carbon-free generation. Small modular reactors offer a pathway to:

 

 

For lawmakers and the public, the lesson is clear. SMRs deserve serious consideration as part of Delaware's energy portfolio.

 

 

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