President Trump signed four (!) executive orders to make the U.S. the world’s leader in nuclear electricity.
Some of it is promising. Some of it might backfire. Let’s break it down.
Nuclear Executive Orders megathread ☢️
Some of it is promising. Some of it might backfire. Let’s break it down.
Nuclear Executive Orders megathread ☢️
https://twitter.com/whitehouse/status/1925975528097431782
Starting with the juiciest EO of them all: Reforming the NRC!
If you’ve been in pro-tech spaces on X, you’ve heard that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is to blame for nuclear’s abysmal performance in America in the past 30+ years.
“Since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has authorized only five new reactors, and of these, only two have been built,” reads the EO.
If you’ve been in pro-tech spaces on X, you’ve heard that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is to blame for nuclear’s abysmal performance in America in the past 30+ years.
“Since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has authorized only five new reactors, and of these, only two have been built,” reads the EO.
Ignore the fact that the NRC has actually licensed 14 new reactors since 1978, though only 4 began construction and a measly 2 finished.
The truth is that the aftermath of the oil shock in the 1970’s had a lot to do with reactor’s orders disappearing:
- Interest rates were super high.
- Load growth slowed down a lot.
- Productivity at construction sites went down (partly because after Three Mile Island regulations were changing in real time.)
To learn more about this, pre-order my book Rad Future. Yes, this is a shameless book plug.
But whatever, I’m not here to defend the NRC.
The truth is that the aftermath of the oil shock in the 1970’s had a lot to do with reactor’s orders disappearing:
- Interest rates were super high.
- Load growth slowed down a lot.
- Productivity at construction sites went down (partly because after Three Mile Island regulations were changing in real time.)
To learn more about this, pre-order my book Rad Future. Yes, this is a shameless book plug.
But whatever, I’m not here to defend the NRC.
It’s important to point out that the NRC has approved 3 never-before-built test reactors in the last 18 months:
- Kairos Hermes 1 & 2 (salt-cooled, TRISO-fueled)
- Natura at the Abilene Christian University (molten salt research reactor)
They are also considering permit applications for Terrapower, BWRX-300 and X-energy.
That said, the process is still far too slow.
The NRC could be be less like the DMV and more like a team of Zynned up Gundo guys.
- Kairos Hermes 1 & 2 (salt-cooled, TRISO-fueled)
- Natura at the Abilene Christian University (molten salt research reactor)
They are also considering permit applications for Terrapower, BWRX-300 and X-energy.
That said, the process is still far too slow.
The NRC could be be less like the DMV and more like a team of Zynned up Gundo guys.
There are also some truly dumb regulations out there.
For example: did you know that to build a nuclear reactor, you need to put up a 197 foot high meteorological tower in the chosen location to gather a year worth of wind data and submit it to the NRC?
When you could just… wait for it… get that info from NOAA.
There are thousands of little things like this driving up costs and timelines.
For example: did you know that to build a nuclear reactor, you need to put up a 197 foot high meteorological tower in the chosen location to gather a year worth of wind data and submit it to the NRC?
When you could just… wait for it… get that info from NOAA.
There are thousands of little things like this driving up costs and timelines.
My biggest concern is that the EO gives somewhat vague marching orders and unrealistic timelines, potentially sending the NRC into a bureaucratic tailspin.
I am hoping those involved know exactly what regulations can be updated or removed and have the adequate resources to do this major overhaul.
I am hoping those involved know exactly what regulations can be updated or removed and have the adequate resources to do this major overhaul.
If I had a magic wand, this is what I would add to the Executive Order:
•Focus less on a deadline and more on licensing new reactors in batches through joint environmental impact reviews.
•Cross agency coordination between the DOE, DOD and NRC.
•Require new base appropriations to support streamlined NRC processes instead of cutting staff.
•Add international coordination provisions (e.g., joint safety reviews, mutual recognition).
•Include explicit guidance on reactor nonproliferation and security in licensing priorities.
•Focus less on a deadline and more on licensing new reactors in batches through joint environmental impact reviews.
•Cross agency coordination between the DOE, DOD and NRC.
•Require new base appropriations to support streamlined NRC processes instead of cutting staff.
•Add international coordination provisions (e.g., joint safety reviews, mutual recognition).
•Include explicit guidance on reactor nonproliferation and security in licensing priorities.
My most controversial take is that the NRC should only concern itself with technologies that are ready to be deployed.
Realistically, 90%+ of the 70+ nuclear startups will fail. That’s not shade, it’s just how innovation works.
The NRC shouldn’t burn its limited resources on designs that may never leave the lab.
In my ideal world, companies developing early-stage reactors would be allowed, through the DOE, to build and test their prototypes on federal land in remote, controlled environments.
Then, and only then, once they have a working prototype, they’d go to the NRC for licensing.
That process could be streamlined, too, because by that point, we’d know the thing actually works.
Realistically, 90%+ of the 70+ nuclear startups will fail. That’s not shade, it’s just how innovation works.
The NRC shouldn’t burn its limited resources on designs that may never leave the lab.
In my ideal world, companies developing early-stage reactors would be allowed, through the DOE, to build and test their prototypes on federal land in remote, controlled environments.
Then, and only then, once they have a working prototype, they’d go to the NRC for licensing.
That process could be streamlined, too, because by that point, we’d know the thing actually works.
Which brings us to the next executive order: Reforming R&D through the DOE!
This is brilliant and exactly what we need! It:
- Classifies advanced reactors as research reactors.
- Gives the DOE authority to approve small modular and microreactors.
- Expedites or eliminates nonessential environmental reviews.
What's missing is follow-through.
Building a prototype is the easy part. The hard part is building the first few, when the cost curve is still high to compete with natural gas plants or renewables.
This is brilliant and exactly what we need! It:
- Classifies advanced reactors as research reactors.
- Gives the DOE authority to approve small modular and microreactors.
- Expedites or eliminates nonessential environmental reviews.
What's missing is follow-through.
Building a prototype is the easy part. The hard part is building the first few, when the cost curve is still high to compete with natural gas plants or renewables.
If I could add to the EO I would:
•Create a broader build strategy to bring down costs and mature the supply chain.
•Aggregate demand through federal procurement: military, national labs, industrial hubs.
•Ensure repeat builds of the same design, not one-off science projects.
•Create a broader build strategy to bring down costs and mature the supply chain.
•Aggregate demand through federal procurement: military, national labs, industrial hubs.
•Ensure repeat builds of the same design, not one-off science projects.
Next up: Reinvigorating the nuclear industrial base!
Among other things, this EO empowers the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office (LPO) to support the:
- Restart of closed nuclear plants.
- Increase of output at operating plants.
- Finish half-built reactors.
This is all low-hanging fruit. Do it.
Among other things, this EO empowers the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office (LPO) to support the:
- Restart of closed nuclear plants.
- Increase of output at operating plants.
- Finish half-built reactors.
This is all low-hanging fruit. Do it.
But I’d go further: The LPO should help fund a few new builds to keep the pipeline moving, reduce costs, and show investors that nuclear can scale.
And the AP1000 should absolutely be part of this renaissance. We know it works and we know how to build it.
And the AP1000 should absolutely be part of this renaissance. We know it works and we know how to build it.
If I could sneak a couple of things in to help move from bespoke one-offs to repeatable, industrial builds:
•Set up a national buyer’s club.
•Mandate orderbooks for key designs.
•Set up a national buyer’s club.
•Mandate orderbooks for key designs.
Finally we have: Nuclear Energy for National Security!
This EO directs the DoD, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to identify 9 military facilities that can host nuclear reactors within 60 days.
Great, love that for us.
This EO directs the DoD, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, to identify 9 military facilities that can host nuclear reactors within 60 days.
Great, love that for us.
Overall, the Executive Orders are a big step forward in helping unproven reactor designs get built.
That said, I’d like to see more emphasis on supporting the technologies we can scale right now.
At the same time, eliminating or even just downsizing the LPO, or decimating clean energy tax credits, would be a disaster.
It would make scaling any reactor technology, proven or not, nearly impossible.
The first few units of any new design will be insanely expensive and almost certainly take longer than planned.
Private capital simply isn’t going to take on that kind of risk alone.
Over the next 25 years the nuclear industry is a $7 - $10 trillion opportunity globally, let’s invest now so we can lead abroad!
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
That said, I’d like to see more emphasis on supporting the technologies we can scale right now.
At the same time, eliminating or even just downsizing the LPO, or decimating clean energy tax credits, would be a disaster.
It would make scaling any reactor technology, proven or not, nearly impossible.
The first few units of any new design will be insanely expensive and almost certainly take longer than planned.
Private capital simply isn’t going to take on that kind of risk alone.
Over the next 25 years the nuclear industry is a $7 - $10 trillion opportunity globally, let’s invest now so we can lead abroad!
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Well, it seems like the latest draft of the EO includes exactly what I recommended.
The LPO shall support uprates and *10* new large reactor builds.
The LPO shall support uprates and *10* new large reactor builds.
https://x.com/thomashochman/status/1926026596122534232?s=46
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