Striving for Efficiency in Nuclear Energy
The Trump administration is aiming to promote the growth of nuclear energy through a series of executive orders. However, experts indicate that no new funding has been earmarked for this initiative. Matt Bowen, a nuclear energy, waste, and nonproliferation specialist at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, noted that the initial budget proposal from the White House includes a significant cut of $4.7 billion to the Department of Energy. This reduction encompasses $408 million from the Office of Nuclear Energy, which supports nuclear research for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year.
“The administration’s budget outline indicates cuts to the Office of Nuclear Energy and the Department of Energy overall,” Bowen explained. “This raises questions about how to achieve more with dwindling staff and financial resources.”
The Trump administration has attributed the sluggish progress in the nuclear sector to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which manages the licensing and recertification processes incurring substantial costs for the industry. In his executive orders, Trump proposed substantial changes to the NRC, calling for a reorganization of the agency. Some adjustments, such as expediting the approval process for new plants—which often stretches over several years—might be seen positively. “The process has been extremely slow for a long time,” commented Charles Forsberg, a nuclear chemical engineer at MIT, recognizing the need for improvement. However, concerns linger that these executive actions could undermine regulatory safeguards.
“Every element of those orders raises alarm, as they seem to undermine the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effectively invalidating its intended purpose,” cautioned Lyman.
There are apprehensions among experts that these new directives could result in NRC personnel being overburdened with less time and fewer resources, potentially jeopardizing the safety of power plants moving forward. Bowen added, “The idea that nuclear energy’s challenges stem solely from regulation can be misleading and potentially dangerous.”
The coming decades will reveal whether nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), can navigate economic and technological hurdles to effectively contribute to decarbonization initiatives. Optimists like Gehin express hope, stating, “I believe we can accelerate progress. If we adopt the right mindset, significant deployment becomes feasible.”
However, achieving financial competitiveness in nuclear energy will require robust support from both the government and numerous companies, many of which remain skeptical of this venture, according to Shirvan. “I tend to lean toward a pessimistic outlook regarding the future of nuclear energy in the United States,” he remarked.
This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.
