LEAP District Land Deal Draws Questions Over Nuclear Power Use

A California company’s land purchase for an Indiana medical plant is drawing sharp questions about future nuclear power generation.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. requested $20 million toward expanding the LEAP District by 185 acres during a State Budget Committee meeting. A contract between the state agency and a subsidiary of Oklo Inc. lists potential uses for the site near Lebanon as “nuclear power generation, radioisotope production, research and development.”

Democratic legislators challenged Mark Wasky, senior vice president for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., over the company’s long-term intentions during Tuesday’s meeting. Wasky told the committee that discussions with Oklo had “focused on radioisotopes,” which are medications containing a small amount of a radioactive substance.

That response failed to satisfy lawmakers regarding the advanced nuclear technology company, which describes its work on its website as developing fast fission power plants, building domestic supply chains for critical isotopes, and handling advanced nuclear fuel recycling capabilities.

“Can you look us in the eye and say that you’re not going to come back over here and tell us that there will be nuclear generation discussion by that project that could feed into data centers into the LEAP project?” asked Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis.

LEAP District Land Deal Draws Questions Over Nuclear Power Use — Photo: yahoo.com

Wasky replied that nuclear power plants had not been discussed with the state agency. “I can’t say today whether or not those conversations may occur in the future, but we have not had any conversations about building power to serve the data center within the LEAP District,” Wasky said.

The high-tech business development now spans some 6,700 acres and has faced persistent public criticism as the state has poured about $1 billion into its development. A few opponents staged a protest outside the committee meeting.

Wasky said that Oklo’s project must still secure approval from Lebanon city and zoning officials before construction can proceed. Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, criticized what he described as insufficient public disclosure regarding the proposal, which appeared on the committee’s agenda under the name “Project Phoenix.”

“This is not what people would call a confidence building method and that’s a real problem. We need confidence in the IEDC,” DeLaney told Wasky.

Santa Clara-based Oklo did not immediately comment to the Capital Chronicle about its plans for the Indiana site.

The Budget Committee voted 4-1 to approve the funding request. Support came from Sens. Ryan Misher, R-Mishawaka, and David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, along with Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, and State Budget Director Chad Ranney.

Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, voted against the approval alongside objections from Qaddoura and DeLaney.

“I’m asking that we stop this or slow it down,” Porter said, suggesting the matter wait until the committee’s next meeting in December. “They can come back and look at it again.”