Indiana – Indiana is taking another step toward reshaping its energy future, this time with one of the state’s most recognizable companies at the table.
Gov. Mike Braun this week signed a Letter of Intent with Eli Lilly and Company, opening the door to a joint effort focused on possible nuclear energy development in the state, including small modular reactors and other advanced technologies.
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The agreement fits into Braun’s broader push to increase power supply across Indiana, a strategy he has tied directly to affordability for families.
His argument is simple: when the state produces more energy, pressure on household costs can ease. In that vision, nuclear power is not just an energy source.
It is part of a larger economic play, one aimed at strengthening the grid while making Indiana a more attractive place for future investment.
“Indiana is leading on nuclear power, because more energy means lower energy prices for Hoosier families. Today, I’m proud to enter into this partnership with Lilly to explore how we can collaborate on making Indiana the nation’s nuclear energy leader,” Braun said.
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For Lilly, the move reflects both its long relationship with Indiana and its view of where industry is heading. The company said advanced nuclear technology could help meet rising energy demands while also supporting environmental goals.
“For 150 years, Lilly has grown alongside Indiana. Advanced nuclear technology represents the kind of bold, clean energy solution our state needs to power the next generation of innovation, and it directly supports Lilly’s own commitment to reduce our environmental footprint. We’re proud to partner with the state to help make it a reality,” said Lilly Chair and CEO Dave Ricks.
Under the Letter of Intent, the state and Lilly will work within a framework designed to study whether nuclear energy solutions make sense for Indiana from multiple angles.
That includes examining technical, economic, regulatory and environmental feasibility. The collaboration will also consider how future projects could be structured, including possible public-private models, ownership and operating arrangements, and power purchase agreements.
Beyond the immediate analysis, the agreement points to larger ambitions. State leaders say the effort is meant to support long-term energy reliability and resilience while also advancing economic development, industrial growth, workforce development and emissions reduction goals.
For now, the document does not launch a reactor project or commit either side to a final buildout. What it does is create a starting point.
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And in a state looking to secure more power for the years ahead, officials are signaling that nuclear energy may now be moving from distant possibility to serious discussion.
