Delaware Can Deploy SMRs Faster Than Any Other State
With the right leadership, Delaware can deploy Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) faster than any other state in America. While larger states remain bogged down in red tape, Delaware’s small size, existing bipartisan Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force, and strategic location give us a decisive head start on delivering lower, more stable electricity rates for families and businesses.
The Cape Gazette’s coverage of the May 4 nuclear meeting recycled the usual warnings: lengthy permitting, “unproven” small modular reactors, waste fears, and former NRC chair Allison MacFarlane’s claim that nuclear won’t be a growth industry soon. Mike Woosley advised Delaware to avoid advanced SMR designs.
That cautious narrative ignores Delaware’s urgent opportunity. With the right leadership, the First State can deploy SMRs faster than any other state and deliver lower, more stable electricity rates for families and businesses while meeting our environmental and reliability goals.
Current Ratepayers Are Paying the Price of Dogma
Delaware’s 40% renewable portfolio standard by 2035 is already forcing Delmarva Power to pay millions in alternative compliance penalties — costs that hit family budgets directly. Intermittent wind and solar require expensive backup generation, massive battery storage, and transmission upgrades that drive bills higher. The result: higher costs, less reliability, and missed economic opportunity.
SMRs solve this. Once online, they deliver power at low marginal cost with capacity factors above 90% — far outpacing solar (~25%) or wind (~35%). No fuel-price volatility. No need for billions in overbuilt renewables and storage. Factory-built modular construction slashes timelines and capital costs versus traditional plants.
SMR Cost Curves Are Falling Fast
As of 2026, NuScale’s 77 MWe design holds the only full NRC design certification. The Department of Energy is accelerating multiple projects (X-energy Xe-100, Oklo, Kairos) with nearly $1 billion in recent funding. Tech giants are investing billions because SMRs provide the reliable, 24/7 power AI data centers demand.
These projects target competitive levelized costs in the $60–90/MWh range at scale — competitive with or better than new gas when full system costs are included. Siting SMRs near load centers (ideal for compact Delaware) cuts transmission losses and expensive grid upgrades. Kentucky’s rapid X-energy partnership shows what’s possible when states move decisively.
Delaware’s existing bipartisan Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force (launched 2025) gives us a head start. Larger states are mired in red tape. We can pre-approve sites, fast-track local resolutions, and partner with vendors to cut years off deployment.
Waste and Safety Concerns Are Overblown
Waste is a political issue, not a technical barrier. Decades of safe dry-cask storage prove the point. Advanced SMRs produce less waste volume and can use fuels that further reduce the challenge. Delaware could pioneer a host-community model that turns perceived problems into real economic benefits — high-wage jobs, tax revenue, and infrastructure investment.
Safety records for nuclear power remain unmatched. With over 50 years of U.S. Navy experience operating military-grade SMRs in submarines and carriers — and modern passive safety features — accident risk is lower than ever.
Delaware’s Path to Energy Leadership
As your U.S. Senator, I will work directly with Dover to make Delaware America’s leader in SMR deployment. I will secure federal fast-track support and funding, champion nuclear clean energy credits so we meet our goals without penalty payments, and advocate targeted tax incentives and modernized liability frameworks that make first-of-a-kind projects affordable.
Delaware’s small size, existing task force, coastal advantages, and grid access make us the ideal location. With strong leadership in Washington, we can cut years off timelines and deliver the affordable, reliable power our families need and deserve.
Real leadership focuses on solutions. Delaware has the chance to become America’s SMR capital and power a true Renaissance Engine for the First State. I’m ready to fight in the Senate to make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions About SMRs in Delaware
Q: What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? A: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that are factory-built in modules and assembled on-site. They are much smaller than traditional nuclear plants, making them faster and less expensive to build. SMRs deliver reliable, 24/7 power with capacity factors above 90% — far higher than solar (~25%) or wind (~35%).
Q: Why can Delaware deploy SMRs faster than any other state? A: Delaware has a unique combination of advantages: our small size allows quicker decision-making, we already have a bipartisan Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force (launched in 2025), and we face far less regulatory red tape than larger states. With the right leadership, Delaware can pre-approve sites, fast-track permits, and partner directly with SMR vendors to cut years off deployment timelines.
Q: How do SMRs compare to solar and wind power in Delaware? A: SMRs provide consistent baseload power with no fuel-price volatility and no need for expensive backup storage or overbuilt transmission. Solar and wind are intermittent and require significant grid upgrades and storage to maintain reliability. Once online, SMRs deliver power at low marginal cost and are expected to reach levelized costs of $60–90 per MWh at scale — competitive with or better than new natural gas when full system costs are included.
Q: Are SMRs safe? A: Yes. SMRs have an unmatched safety record built on more than 50 years of U.S. Navy experience operating military-grade small reactors in submarines and aircraft carriers. Modern SMR designs incorporate passive safety features that make accidents far less likely than older plants. Safety concerns are among the most overblown objections to this proven technology.
Q: What about nuclear waste from SMRs? A: Nuclear waste is primarily a political issue, not a technical one. Decades of safe dry-cask storage have already proven effective. Advanced SMRs produce significantly less waste than traditional reactors and use fuels that further reduce long-term challenges. Delaware could pioneer a host-community model that turns waste management into a source of high-wage jobs, tax revenue, and local infrastructure investment.
Q: Will SMRs lower electricity rates for Delaware families and businesses? A: Yes. Delaware’s current 40% renewable portfolio standard forces ratepayers to pay millions in alternative compliance penalties while intermittent renewables drive up costs through backup power and grid upgrades. SMRs offer stable, low-cost power that can reduce these burdens and deliver more predictable electricity bills for Delaware households and businesses.
Q: What is Delaware’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force? A: The bipartisan Delaware Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force was created by the General Assembly in 2025 to study the safety, cost-effectiveness, siting, and economic impact of deploying SMRs in the First State. It gives Delaware a critical head start that larger states do not yet have.
Q: How will Shulli make Delaware America’s SMR capital? A: As U.S. Senator, John Shulli will work directly with state leaders in Dover to lead SMR deployment, secure federal fast-track support and funding, champion nuclear clean energy credits, and advocate for tax incentives and modernized liability frameworks. Delaware has the chance to become America’s SMR capital and power a true Renaissance Engine for the First State — and Shulli is ready to fight to make it happen.