corporation commission; small modular reactors

SB 1418 amends Arizona zoning law to allow small modular reactors (SMRs) to be constructed and operated without local zoning restrictions in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents, provided they are located at a site where a large industrial energy user has already secured all necessary zoning approvals. This prevents counties from imposing additional zoning rules on such SMR projects, specifically targeting smaller counties (e.g., excluding Maricopa County, which exceeds 500,000 residents). The bill defines key terms like "colocated" and "large industrial energy user" based on rules set by the Corporation Commission. It directly affects developers of SMRs and local governments in smaller counties, aiming to streamline clean energy infrastructure development by removing regulatory barriers.