Brief
As the U.S. nuclear industry pivots towards revitalization, spurred by the summer’s enactment of the ADVANCE Act, experts assert the urgency for lawmakers and regulatory bodies to intensify their efforts to harness this momentum. This sentiment emerged during a panel discussion at the National Clean Energy Week conference, held in the heart of Washington, D.C., on September 26.
Representatives from notable entities such as Constellation Energy, Oklo, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the Idaho National Laboratory convened to explore pathways to streamline the reactor licensing process. They highlighted the pressing need to bolster federal backing for serial deployments of reactors, enhance the U.S. nuclear workforce, and formulate regulatory frameworks that empower existing nuclear facilities to support burgeoning sectors like data centers and hydrogen production.
- With an eye on the near future, panelist Brad Williams from the Idaho National Laboratory indicated that previously operational nuclear sites may very well be the linchpin for expanding the U.S. nuclear fleet, supported by a recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy. This report revealed that 41 nuclear sites across the nation are potentially primed to accommodate an additional 600 MW of capacity.
Insight
Williams prefaced the discourse with a historical perspective, underscoring the drastic transformation in the U.S. nuclear landscape over the past decade. Once beleaguered by the rise of inexpensive natural gas, triggering the premature decommissioning of several nuclear plants, the industry now witnesses a revival. Reactors in Michigan and Pennsylvania are slated to return to activity by 2025 and 2028, respectively, with a third reactor in Iowa also hinting at a possible resurgence.
In an interesting turn of events, Constellation finds itself prepared to invest $1.6 billion to restart the dormant 835-MW reactor at Three Mile Island Unit 1, driven by Microsoft’s insatiable demand for reliable, clean energy to support its expanding data center operations, as shared by David Brown, Constellation’s senior vice president of federal government affairs and public policy.
In a two-decade agreement, Microsoft is poised to procure energy from the newly-named Crane Clean Energy Center, while Constellation seeks to extend its operational license to 2054, according to Brown.
With the advocacy of the ADVANCE Act, Constellation is poised to inject an additional 1,200 MW of capacity into its existing fleet through equipment enhancements, representing almost half of the 2,500 MW of such projects currently in the U.S. Additionally, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is set to refine its regulatory procedures, potentially extending license durations to 80, or even 100 years, as Brown noted.
However, a unified sentiment echoed among panelists: the trajectory of new reactor deployments demands intensified support from regulatory entities and federal lawmakers, especially in the context of escalating power requirements driven by data centers and the broader shift towards electrification.
“If we aim to maintain our lead in the AI race—and we must to prevent a setback to China—we need to expedite reactor construction,” Williams emphasized.
Discussing the NRC’s forthcoming technology-inclusive, risk-informed Part 53 reactor licensing framework—anticipated to roll out no earlier than 2026—panelist Marcie Haber, from advanced nuclear tech firm Oklo, expressed concern that its timeline feels dauntingly distant. "It’s not on our immediate agenda," she remarked.
Haber elaborated on Oklo’s commitment to advancing through the more streamlined Part 52 pathway, which facilitates a combined operating license, contrasting with the traditional two-tiered process inherent in Part 50.
This strategic alignment caters to Oklo’s build-own-operate model, while other advanced reactor enterprises, such as NuScale, pursue development and operational partnerships for their reactor deployments.
Moreover, panelist Kati Austgen, overseeing new nuclear initiatives at NEI, reiterated that other trailblazing reactor firms are not merely awaiting the arrival of Part 53. The NRC is actively assessing a myriad of construction permit applications for innovative projects, such as TerraPower’s 345-MW Natrium demonstration reactor, she noted.
The pathway for federal policymakers to facilitate the nuclear sector’s advance could include directives to the NRC aimed at scrapping redundant mandates like uncontested mandatory hearings, the reactor safety advisory committee, and the stipulation that applicants collect their own meteorological data—a requirement Williams questioned with palpable incredulity.
“How does it make sense for the NRC to mandate applicants to gather weather data rather than rely on the governmental entities tasked with monitoring such data?” he pondered.
Additionally, the panel identified opportunities for federal agencies to contribute to the nuclear industry’s trajectory. The Treasury Department’s finalized rule concerning the Inflation Reduction Act’s Section 45V clean hydrogen tax credit, for instance, should encompass current clean energy sources, including nuclear, according to Brown.
Private sector entities poised to gain from assured access to clean energy must actively engage in partnerships to catalyze project development, a call to action emphasized by Haber, who highlighted the significance of the Microsoft-Constellation collaboration as a vital step forward.
Nevertheless, the expansive deployment of new reactors necessitates a considerable enhancement in the energy workforce, spanning over 30 distinct fields, as highlighted by Austgen.
“We require expertise beyond just nuclear engineers,” she noted.
Williams accounted for the workforce implications; many who constructed Plant Vogtle’s units 3 and 4 have transitioned to other ventures, complicating immediate retraining efforts. To navigate this landscape, coordination for serial construction is essential, enabling the industry to transition efficiently from one project site to the next as the NRC greenlights new reactor installations and developers break ground.