Scott Lopez launches New Mexico Nuclear Alliance
The registered trade industry group promoting nuclear power made its official debut recently before lawmakers at an interim Science, Technology, and Telecommunications committee meeting.
Source NM reports that a new organization has been organized in New Mexico to promote nuclear power.
The New Mexico Nuclear Alliance, a registered trade industry group promoting nuclear power, made its official debut recently before lawmakers at an interim Science, Technology, and Telecommunications committee meeting in Las Cruces.
Founder Scott Lopez started the New Mexico Nuclear Alliance in July. A former Marine and longtime investor and business consultant, Lopez doesn’t have a background in nuclear power, but says he has “dozens of family members” from his hometown in Española either working or retired from nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
Lopez told Source NM he was “driven to start the alliance” after moderating a panel discussion on nuclear power by officials from LANL; Urenco, the uranium processing facility; and Kairos Power, a start-up planning to construct a testing laboratory in Albuquerque, during last May’s two-day New Mexico Energy Policy Symposium.
“We realized there was no trade association, there was not the kind of voice, so to speak, to advocate for work on policy, economic development for New Mexico’s nuclear industry, which is cradle-to-grave in the life cycle,” Lopez said.
He said the alliance has no plans to back legislation in the 2026 session. However, Lopez said the group would consider supporting a bill similar to a Colorado law, HB25-1040, signed by Governor Jared Polis in 2025, which redefines nuclear as a “clean energy resource” because it doesn’t release emissions that drive climate change.
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