U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke on March 19 with Theodore Garrish, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy, and Dr. John Wagner, Director at the Idaho National Lab, during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing about Montana’s potential role in expanding America’s nuclear capacity.
The discussion focused on how recent changes in Montana law have opened the door to nuclear energy development. Daines said that for more than forty years, restrictions prevented nuclear projects in Montana, but House Bill 273 passed in 2021 transferred project approval to the state legislature. “Montana opened the door for the deployment of nuclear energy. Expanding nuclear capacity, both in Montana and across our great nation, is critical to maintaining a resilient electric grid through the distribution of firm, dispatchable electricity. We need more baseload power,” Daines said.
Daines highlighted that while Montana currently has no nuclear generation sites, advanced technologies like small modular reactors and microreactors could help meet growing energy demands. Garrish responded by saying, “Smaller reactors could be very helpful in places like Montana.” The senator also pointed out that retiring coal-fired plants has reduced reliable baseload power nationwide and referenced Colstrip Power Plant as vital to affordable and resilient energy in Montana. He noted that adding nuclear capacity at Colstrip could support an additional 680 jobs based on a June 2025 analysis by The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear and Idaho National Lab.
Wagner called Colstrip “an excellent choice” for advanced nuclear deployment. Daines also addressed fuel supply chain concerns: “The Department of Energy’s $2.7 billion investment in domestic enrichment is an important step toward rebuilding capacity right here at home.” Garrish replied, “Enrichment has to be from foreign countries that we can trust… I look forward to working with Congress to make sure that we can have an adequate supply of the fuel that we need.”
Daines serves as a U.S. senator representing Montana and brings prior private sector experience to his role according to his official website. He focuses on assisting Montanans with federal matters and advocates for jobs in energy, mining, and forestry sectors according to his official website. As a fifth-generation Montanan with deep roots in the state according to his official website, he maintains offices across Montana according to his official website.
Daines advances pro-growth tax policies and promotes sustainable forest management through committee roles according to his official website. He serves on several Senate committees including Finance; Foreign Relations; Energy and Natural Resources; and Indian Affairs. He ran on a platform advocating high-paying jobs in key sectors such as energy, mining, and forestry while promoting public access to lands according to his official website.
Looking ahead, Daines supports public safety initiatives and economic opportunities for Indian nations within Montana according to his official website.
