NorthWestern told the commission in a document that the need for nuclear power comes as “we are concerned about a number of factors outside of our control that may force us into early retirement of our coal‐based generation facilities.”

“This plant will provide the necessary 24/7 reliability that is needed for NorthWestern’s customers as the existing coal plants in South Dakota are retired,” Decker said in a document submitted to the commission.

The 2023 South Dakota Legislature is also interested in nuclear energy. The House and Senate recently passed a resolution encouraging the Legislature’s Executive Board to appoint a summer study committee to “examine the potential use of nuclear power in South Dakota, to include a nuclear power plant, for the establishment of a safe, clean, and reliable source of energy for South Dakota.”