As we track energy policy and regulatory developments, we remain committed to pushing for innovation and smart, responsible policy in the nuclear sector. Here are some key updates from recent months.

‍

‍

ADVANCE Act Signed into Law

July also brought us the ADVANCE Act, a big win for nuclear innovation. This new law streamlines regulatory and licensing processes for advanced reactors, helping communities access nuclear energy more easily. It strengthens the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's staffing, facilitates the use of accident-tolerant fuels, and supports licensing new reactor designs, including coal-to-nuclear projects. It's the first federal climate legislation since the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022!
‍

Kairos Power Breaks Ground on Hermes Reactor‍

Exciting news in nuclear! Kairos Power has started construction on the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is the first Gen IV reactor approved for construction in the U.S. and the first non-light-water reactor permitted in over 50 years. With advanced safety features and a simplified design, Hermes is set to be operational by 2027, bringing over $100 million in local investments and creating high-quality jobs.


President Biden Nominates Matt Marzano for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Hot on the heels of the ADVANCE Act passage, we were delighted to see President Biden nominate Matt Marzano to fill the fifth and final seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has been vacant for over a year. Marzano brings a wealth of experience, including time as an INL detailee on the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee and as a licensed nuclear power plant operator. This nomination shows the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to staffing up the NRC to get new nuclear projects licensed.
‍

Project 2025: Controversial Nuclear Blueprint

Project 2025 has raised significant concerns with its proposals to revive nuclear weapons testing in Nevada and reconsider the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site. We oppose these regressive steps, which ignore the need for urgent, responsible solutions for nuclear waste management and would potentially create more domestic victims of U.S. weapons testing.

As we previously laid out in our joint op-ed with the American Nuclear Society, nuclear waste management requires a bipartisan approach and community-focused solutions from policymakers. The Department of Energy (DOE) must meet its responsibilities in managing and disposing of nuclear waste effectively. However, the proposal put forth by Project 2025 would undermine the progress we've made in this critical area.

The U.S. still grapples with the devastating legacy of nuclear weapons testing, which left many victims in its wake. Current efforts to pass the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, aimed at compensating those sickened by Cold War-era tests and uranium mining, underscore our ongoing struggle to address past harms. Resuming nuclear testing would not only create more victims but likely perpetuate environmental injustices, with Indigenous communities often bearing the brunt of these impacts. We must learn from history and prevent further harm.