Bipartisan Legislators Request Governor’s Support for DOE Nuclear Innovation Campus Submission
(Denver, CO – March 11, 2026) – A bipartisan group of Colorado legislators sent a letter today to Governor Jared Polis requesting his formal endorsement of Colorado’s participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Request for Information on Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. Lawmakers emphasized that the submission is intended to keep Colorado engaged in federal discussions on future energy infrastructure, workforce development, and economic stability for coal transition communities.
Read the full letter below:
Governor Polis:
The Colorado General Assembly expresses strong bipartisan legislative support for Colorado’s submission to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Request for Information on Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses and respectfully requests your formal endorsement.
As legislators committed to statewide economic stability, we recognize the importance of maintaining Colorado’s engagement in federal initiatives that may shape future energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and grid resilience. Participation preserves Colorado’s strategic positioning and leadership in discussions that may influence long-term competitiveness.
Many of Colorado’s coal transition communities, including Tier one and Tier two transition communities as defined in C.R.S. § 8-83-502, continue to experience structural economic impacts associated with coal facility retirements and sustained market decline. Engagement at this stage supports economic stability within these statutorily recognized communities.
This submission is a preliminary information-gathering step only. It does not authorize development, designate sites, commit funding, authorize construction, or consent to long-term storage of used nuclear fuel. Any future implementation phase would return to the General Assembly for separate legislative consideration.
The Department of Energy has established an April 1 deadline, and absent participation, Colorado risks losing future participation. Coordinated executive and legislative engagement will ensure a unified response within the federal timeframe.
For these reasons, we respectfully request your formal endorsement of a coordinated state submission.
Sincerely,
The undersigned members of the General Assembly
Mark Baisley - Senate District 4
Carlos Barron - House District 48
Scott Bottoms - House District 15
Mary Bradfield - House District 21
Brandi Bradley - House District 39
Scott Bright - Senate District 13
Max Brooks - House District 45
Jarvis Caldwell - House District 20
John Carson - Senate District 30
Marc Catlin - Senate District 5
Chad Clifford - House District 37
Ken DeGraaf - House District 22
Monica Duran - House District 23
Ava Flanell - House District 14
Lisa Frizell - Senate District 2
Ryan Gonzalez - House District 50
Lori Garcia Sander - House District 65
Anthony Hartsook - House District 44
Nick Hinrichsen - Senate District 3
Dusty Johnson - House District 63
Rebecca Keltie - House District 16
Cathy Kipp - Senate District 14
Barbara Kirkmeyer - Senate District 23
Chris Kolker - Senate District 16
William Lindstedt - Senate District 25
Larry Liston - Senate District 10
Meghan Lukens - House District 26
Bob Marshall - House District 43
Tisha Mauro - House District 46
Amy Paschal - House District 18
Byron Pelton - Senate District 1
Rod Pelton - Senate District 35
Jaque Phillips - House District 31
Chris Richardson - House District 56
Janice Rich - Senate District 7
Dylan Roberts - Senate District 8
Scott Slaugh - House District 64
Marc Snyder - Senate District 12
Matt Soper - House District 54
Cleave Simpson - Senate District 6
Larry Don Suckla - House District 58
Rick Taggart - House District 55
Alex Valdez - House District 5
Ron Weinberg - House District 51
Lynda Zamora Wilson - Senate District 9
Ty Winter - House District 47
Dan Woog - House District 19
