North Carolina SB 546: Clean Energy Workforce and Innovation Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 546

Short Title: Clean Energy Workforce & Innovation Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Theodros and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S546-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT THE CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE AND INNOVATION ACT. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1.(a) Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by 4
adding a new Part to read: 5
"Part 8A. Clean Energy. 6
"§ 143B-451.2. Clean energy workforce and innovation. 7
(a) Title, purpose. – This Part shall be known and may be cited as "The Clean Energy 8
Workforce and Innovation Act". The purpose of this Act is to accomplish the following: 9
(1) Develop a skilled workforce in this State to support the deployment of 10
advanced nuclear energy, small modular reactors, and related clean energy 11
technologies and facilities. 12
(2) Accelerate clean energy innovation by streamlining regulatory processes for 13
small modular reactors and associated infrastructure, ensuring North Carolina 14
remains a leader in reliable, low-carbon energy. 15
(3) Expand economic opportunities in energy transition by investing in workforce 16
training, apprenticeships, and educational partnerships that equip North 17
Carolinians for high-paying, sustainable careers. 18
(4) Ensure equitable access to clean energy jobs by prioritizing workforce 19
development programs in communities affected by fossil fuel plant closures, 20
economically distressed areas, and underrepresented groups in the energy 21
sector. 22
(b) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this Part. 23
(1) Department. – The Department of Commerce. 24
(2) Energy sector skilled trade. – Operator certification, welding, precision 25
machining, grid integration and energy storage expertise, nuclear fuel 26
management, electrical work, instrumentation and control systems 27
capabilities, cyber security, reactor maintenance, or any other trade or 28
occupation related to nuclear energy facilities or generation that does not 29
require a four-year college degree. 30
(3) Institution of higher education. – Any public university, community college, 31
or technical training school in North Carolina offering programs in nuclear 32
technology, engineering, or energy-sector skilled trades. 33
(4) Small Modular Reactor (SMR). – A nuclear reactor with a capacity of less 34
than 500 megawatts per unit, designed for modular construction and advanced 35
safety features, including passive safety systems using natural cooling 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 546-First Edition
mechanisms to prevent overheating; underground or sealed containment 1
systems; automatic fail-safe shutdown mechanisms; smaller core and lower 2
power density componentry; fuel choices that are accident tolerant or capable 3
of withstanding higher temperatures with lower risk; and security measures 4
reducing risks from sabotage, aircraft impact, or other external threats. 5
(c) Clean Energy Workforce Development Program. – There is established in the 6
Department of Commerce the Clean Energy Workforce Development Program (Program). The 7
Program shall be comprised of the following elements: 8
(1) Workforce development. – In conjunction with The University of North 9
Carolina and the Community Colleges System Office, the Department shall 10
develop a grant program for institutions of higher education in this State to 11
expedite and facilitate the expansion of nuclear technology and clean energy 12
training programs. The Department shall (i) develop guidelines for an 13
application process for institutions of higher education for the allocation of 14
funds granted pursuant to this section and (ii) prioritize awarding funds based 15
on the degree to which the institution has shown in the application the 16
following: 17
a. A viable plan to partner and create learning synergies with industry 18
leaders and employers to align training and real-world clean energy 19
needs. 20
b. The funding will be used for nuclear energy workforce needs, 21
including energy sector skilled trades. 22
(2) Apprenticeship development. – In conjunction with The University of North 23
Carolina and the Community Colleges System Office, the Department shall 24
develop a grant program for subsidizing the costs of qualifying employers for 25
paid apprenticeship positions for students in institutions of higher education 26
in the State in order to promote direct-to-hire pathways for participating 27
students to be prepared for and immediately fill nuclear energy industry 28
workforce needs. A qualifying employer is an employer currently operating 29
nuclear energy facilities in the State or in another state and construction 30
companies and other entities identified by such employers as having the 31
technical capabilities necessary to design, construct, and maintain nuclear 32