East Feliciana Parish considers resolution backing Louisiana's bid for DOE nuclear life-cycle campus

The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury on the agenda introduced a resolution expressing general support for Louisiana's continued participation in the U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Life Cycle Innovation Campus initiative, a multi-decadal federal-state effort to site research, advanced manufacturing and used nuclear material management activities.

Mr. Kent, who presented the item, described the initiative as potentially transformative: "It's going to be a a world change for this parish," he said, noting the project could involve large investments and years of federal review. The draft resolution the jury reviewed states that support would be general in nature and would "not select or induce a particular site, approve any permit or land use, appropriate or obligate parish funds, waive any legal requirement, or limit the police jury's authority to review any future proposal affecting East Parish."

During public comment, residents asked for documents that informed the parish's review. James Clary, a resident of District 4B, said he was not opposing the idea but sought key federal materials: "I am not trying to present myself as somebody who is against the project. I don't know enough to know about the project yet," he told the jury while asking about memorandums of understanding and the Department of Energy's request for information. Officials replied that state representatives had presented a one-page summary and that parish staff would share available documents and hold further public meetings.

Jurors emphasized the draft resolution would register interest and keep the parish on a list of potential sites rather than commit to a site or authorize construction. The jury did not adopt final language in the public record during the portion of the meeting captured here; officials said additional public hearings and full regulatory reviews would be required before any site approval or permit.

The next procedural step discussed was whether to hold a special meeting and broaden public outreach before any action tied to the DOE deadline. Residents urged the jury to delay carelessly timed endorsements and to ensure meaningful community participation before signing any external deadline-driven paperwork.