# Minnesota Commerce Examines Nuclear Energy Options

The Minnesota Department of Commerce commissioned the Great Plains Institute to conduct a Minnesota Nuclear Energy Study covering July 1, 2026, through January 30, 2027. An advocacy group’s RFI response recommends policy and regulatory changes that could enable new nuclear projects; the response is not a solicitation or contract award. The study’s public-submission window closes **November 16, 2026**, giving interested organizations one day from November 15 to provide input.

- Nuclear developers, licensing firms, transmission providers, and related contractors can use the remaining submission window to share relevant expertise with the study.
- The study may inform later legislative or utility procurement activity, but no resulting project solicitation, funding commitment, or award is identified in the signal.
- Procurement teams should distinguish this policy study from a near-term contracting opportunity and use its findings as context for potential future Minnesota nuclear and transmission work.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Published:** November 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Minnesota Legislature
- Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

### Vendors
- Great Plains Institute (Contractor conducting the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Study)

### Key Quotes
> without competition, a monopoly utility has zero incentive to reduce costs.
> — Paul Cicio, CEO of Industrial Energy Consumers of America

### Sources
- [MN nuclear energy study: RFI response #2](https://www.americanexperiment.org/mn-nuclear-energy-study-rfi-response-2) - Center of the American Experiment