Powering Up: The Push for Nuclear Energy Innovation

Nuclear energy is a big deal for the United States. It's not just about keeping the lights on, but also about national security and the economy. For a long time, the U. S. has been a leader in nuclear power. From 1954 to 1978, 133 civilian nuclear reactors were built at 81 power plants. But since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been slow to approve new reactors. Only two new reactors have started operating commercially. The NRC charges by the hour to process license applications, which can take a long time and cost a lot of money. This slow process is holding back the growth of nuclear power. The NRC's approach to safety is also a problem. They use outdated models that assume any amount of radiation is harmful. This leads to unnecessary regulations that make nuclear power more expensive and slower to develop. Other forms of energy also have risks, like pollution, but the NRC focuses too much on tiny risks from radiation. This needs to change. Recent events in Europe, like blackouts in Spain and Portugal, show why reliable power sources like nuclear energy are crucial. The current administration wants to change things. They want the U. S. to lead the world in nuclear energy again. This means building new reactors and expanding existing ones. The goal is to increase nuclear energy capacity from 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050. To do this, the NRC needs to be reformed. Its structure, rules, and how it operates all need an overhaul. The focus should be on making the licensing process faster and more efficient, while still ensuring safety. The NRC's culture needs to change too. It should promote nuclear power while keeping safety in mind. This means considering the benefits of nuclear energy for the economy and national security, not just safety. The NRC's structure and staffing also need to align with this new focus. This could mean reducing some functions and increasing others, like new reactor licensing. The NRC's rules and guidelines need a major update. This includes setting fixed deadlines for license approvals, adopting science-based radiation limits, and streamlining the public hearings process. The goal is to make the licensing process faster and more efficient, while still ensuring safety. The NRC should also establish an expedited pathway for approving reactor designs that have already been tested and proven safe. This could include microreactors and modular reactors, which are smaller and more flexible than traditional reactors.