The NRC Must Prepare for the Next Gen Nuclear Sprint

Like a boulder rolling down a hill,  the momentum behind the next generation of nuclear technology is here and rapidly accelerating.  

In July, the first advanced reactor technology came online within the United States when Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle entered commercial operations, generating clean, nuclear energy across Georgia while powering economic growth and generating well-paying jobs. And with more companies designing small modular reactors (SMRs), microreactors, and other advanced nuclear technologies, the future looks bright for this nuclear-powered momentum to continue.  

As the independent regulator overseeing the nation’s commercial nuclear safety and security, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plays a key role in meeting our goals and achieving energy independence. With increasing demand for even more clean and reliable energy, the NRC must meet this moment and ensure next-generation nuclear technologies are deployed in time to lead the clean energy future for all.  

One way the NRC can help meet our energy and climate goals is by modernizing and streamlining the siting process for new nuclear projects. 

The initial step in licensing a new nuclear facility is site selection, which includes a regulatory process that is often unnecessarily complex and time-consuming.  

Most of the NRC’s current regulations and guidance for siting nuclear power plants focus on the nuclear technologies of today, hampering the potential deployment of new nuclear. This is an outdated approach. The NRC must consider improvements in environmental data collection and account for several unique aspects of advanced reactor designs, including core size and passive safety features. Recently, the NRC took on a modern approach by approving a promising rule regarding Emergency Preparedness for SMRs and other new technologies – which should be replicated for siting efforts.  

Here are several ways the NRC can streamline the environmental requirements in the siting process while maintaining the highest levels of safety:  

• Factoring in the enhanced safety of advanced reactors and permit licenses to evaluate environmental impacts in smaller boundaries and zones around the plants.

• Allowing the use of existing terrestrial and aquatic ecological studies as a substitute for performing new field studies. Similarly, allow the use of existing water-quality monitoring reports.  

• Allowing the use of offsite sources for meteorological data measurements instead of requiring installation of onsite meteorological towers. 

• Specifying a smaller region of interest as it relates to selecting and evaluating alternative sites. 

The United States and nations across the globe are increasingly prioritizing nuclear energy to advance their climate and energy security goals. At Climate Week NYC in September, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, encouraged countries to meet their net-zero goals and make a difference in the fight against climate change with nuclear power.  

In addition to this global momentum, significant actions at the federal and state levels have provided unprecedented support for existing and new nuclear  technologies in the United States. Investor interest in nuclear power is also growing, with companies announcing exciting strategic partnerships for new nuclear by the day.  

The NRC must streamline the siting process to make our clean energy future a reality and meet the growing demand to deploy new nuclear technologies.