A bill that could keep coal plants online and give tax incentives to small modular nuclear reactors is headed to the governor's desk. Some lawmakers question whether Hoosiers should pay for those incentives with a $2 billion shortfall in the state budget.

One of the orders directs state energy regulators to look at every coal plant in the state and consider extending its life. Another creates a coalition to advance the development of nuclear energy in the state, particularly small modular nuclear reactors

There's no shortage of controversial energy and environment bills this legislative session — from who should pay to develop small nuclear reactors to defining natural gas as "clean energy." But there are several that both Indiana Republicans and Democrats agree on.

Among other things, the bill would allow an Indiana utility to pass along some of the costs of developing a small modular nuclear reactor to its customers — even if the plant never gets finished.

It allows an Indiana utility to pass along some of the pre-construction costs to their customers — even if the plant never gets finished. So far, none of the ones in the U.S. have.

Utilities that want to build a new power plant on the site of an old one — or a former coal mine — could bypass local zoning and land use laws under a Senate bill that passed on Thursday.

The bills would allow utilities to pass along some of the costs of developing small modular nuclear reactors to their customers — even if the plants never get built or completed. So far, none of the ones in the U.S. have.

Several bills that would make Hoosiers pay some of the cost of building small modular nuclear reactors are working their way through the Indiana Statehouse. But a state Senate bill that passed committee on Thursday, SB 423, would allow the tech companies driving the need for these plants to share that cost.

A House bill, HB 1007, aims to help ensure AI data centers coming into the state have the massive amount of power they need — primarily by subsidizing small nuclear plants and keeping coal and natural gas plants online. Consumer and environmental advocates worry this could mean higher electric bills for Hoosiers.

At most nuclear power plants today, the waste — also called spent fuel — stays on the property where it was created.