The Trump administration has shown an eagerness to promote nuclear power in the country, but experts in some industry say there are obstacles to clear first.

Just after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump signature The executive order on “unleashing American energy,” aimed at strengthening domestic fossil fuel production, which the US relies primarily on, reduces the “overburden” of the nuclear energy sector. The move has attracted attention on the development of the industry, but several policy experts told the Daily Call News Foundation that many obstacles must be addressed before nuclear power becomes a major source of energy in the United States.

“In this country, it has made it extremely difficult to build a nuclear power plant almost impossible,” JD Foster, former chief economist at the Office of Management and Budget, who sits on a daily basis at conferences on nuclear regulatory policy, told DCNF. “Nuclear regulatory bodies are one of the slowest mobile organizations in the universe when it comes to new technologies and assessments of nuclear power.”

Foster and others in the nuclear energy field pointed to several hurdles in the industry, including the long and strict permitting process, slightly specialized workforce, nuclear waste management, federal regulations and public fear surrounding radiation.

Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barak ObaMa Although they pursued expansion of nuclear technology for effective and reliable energy output, the US remains largely dependent Fossil fuels. Biden, for example, signed a bipartisan Pre-method It became law in June 2024 design To reduce the cost of nuclear licensing, older industrial sites create new opportunities for hosting nuclear reactors and allocating additional resources to the NRC. Nevertheless, almost all nuclear power currently produced in the United States comes from nuclear reactors built between 1967 and 1990. According to To the World Nuclear Association. (Related: Nuclear Energy could be a godsend for Biden’s Green Agenda, which is what keeps it at bay.)

Trump has a long track record support Nuclear development during his first term shows that he is open to exploring the path to expanding industry innovation.

Less than a month after I returned to the office, I played cards. Established The National Energy Dominance Council and its advisors have appointed him to let him know how to bring a small modular reactor (SMRS). capacity Continuously power 300,000 homes online.

Trump’s Department of Energy Director Chris Wright has also expressed his desire to increase the development of nuclear energy technologies.

“The much-anticipated American nuclear renaissance must be launched during President Trump’s administration,” Wright said. It is listed On February 5th, at his first secretary order. “As global energy demand continues to grow, the US must lead the commercialization of affordable, abundant nuclear energy. As such, the sector will work diligently and creatively to enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology.”

“Nuclear power will become established,” Wright said. I said On April 2nd, in a Fox business interview shared by DOE’s X account. “But tomorrow won’t come.

According to Foster, this is a “nuclear renaissance” behind the “huge” permit issue. The length of time required to complete the permission process varies, and the NRC application review process is obtained Up to 5 years In some cases, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

” [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] An NRC spokesman wrote to DCNF. An NRC spokesman wrote: Reduction Required in time to reach a license decision and “dramatically streamlined” application process As a result Nuclear reactor construction permits are issued within 18 months. The NRC also referred to an announcement that they are First Schedule for “Safety portion of the review for Terrapower Construction License Applications.”

“It’s an agent create An NRC spokesman said, “We are simplified licensing regulations for fusion power systems focusing on the most relevant safety considerations.” Continue building These improvements in efficiency follow the requirements set by Congress in advance law last year. ”

Foster also told DCNF that the nuclear industry is facing a “specific workforce” with a declining “specific workforce.” China and France pointed out as examples of countries with sufficient expertise to make nuclear power plants come true. “In this country, we don’t have that workforce,” Foster added, noting that it takes time and a lot of money to develop the right workforce to build a large nuclear reactor.

“We set impossible goals,” Foster continued, referring to strict nuclear regulations. Need it The 10,000-year waste management requirement requires that nuclear waste reservoirs be buried for 10,000 years, and then retain radiation doses to those below the safe limit.

That’s what the nuclear power plant generation is like. Reduction Since the 1990s, only two large nuclear reactors have been constructed in the state over the past 20 years. If the government deals with it National Energy Emergency Trump declared on January 20th, creating “a reliable, diverse and affordable energy supply.” According to Foster and the recent International Energy Agency, SMR is a practical method in the nuclear domain. Report.

Unlike large nuclear power plants, SMRs can be assembled in factories and built “over and over again.”

“Many of the Trump administration promotes nuclear weapons,” said Tim Echoles, commissioner of the Georgia Public Service Commission. The latest reactor He told DCNF about his life in 2023 and 2024. “In relation to the two reactor models, “We haven’t seen any incentives that are big enough to build another AP1000,” Echols said.

“SMR is essential to phase out fossil fuels and power data centres and deploying electricity transportation,” Echols continued. “SMRs can be built faster and cheaper than Big Nuclear, allowing states with less budgets to deploy sophisticated nuclear technology.”

The engineer will walk through the Exoset installations of the Poseidon division on November 23, 2023, during a visit to CEA Cadarache in Saint-Paul Le Ledorance, southern France. The Poseidon Unit is conducting experimental studies on small modular reactors (SMRs). (Photo: Nicolas Tucat/AFP) (Photo by Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images)

“There are millions that make them [SMRs] Jack Pencer, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation for Energy and Environmental Policy, told DCNF. He described “reliable” energy options that are cheaper to build SMRs than large power plants.

Spencer also touched on other hurdles in the nuclear realm. “Dealing with the nuclear waste problem is a big problem,” he said. “The government needs to implement plans to enable solutions to nuclear waste management.”

Spencer suggested that the US commit to “rethinking regulations,” but he has not defended deregulation.

He added that it would be beneficial if the administration could “allow the uranium fuel market to stabilize” because SMRs are usually driven by uranium. Pre-method “It was done in the spirit intended by lawmakers when they passed that law.” (Related: Future Promotion: LIS Technologies’ Solution to Uranium Deficiency in America)

“For those who are afraid of exposure or low-dose radiation, I say two things,” Spencer continued. “The nuclear industry has a 70-year history of providing excellent protection against radiation exposure. …The industry has a long history of demonstrating that it can protect against low-dose radiation exposure.

“I want that [Environmental Protection Agency] The EPA, Steve Milroy, a senior legal fellow at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Law who worked for the Trump EPA transition team from 2016 to 2017, told DCNF. We don’t see disease… we have all this incredible technology that cannot be deployed because we are afraid of nuclear radiation. ”

Latest EPA Radiation Risk Model Milloy argues that the model is too strict and that “the country has no nuclear power” until the “linear threshold model” is adjusted.

.@SecretaryWright: “It’s been decades since we built meaningful nuclear capabilities in this country, and President Trump is working on getting this nuclear renaissance – that has been talked about for years – we’ll see some plants reopening. pic.twitter.com/5gpid58zbr

– US Department of Energy (@Energy) April 2, 2025

A DOE spokesman directed DCNF to Wright’s First Secretary Order“It emphasized the need to streamline permits, remove the excessive burden of American energy and modernize America’s nuclear stockpile.”

“Secretary Wright and the Energy Division are working hard to ensure that the American nuclear renaissance is round the corner,” the spokesman wrote.

“The Department of Energy has been committed to enabling the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology. Secretary Wright relaxed regulations and permitting regulations to enable new construction projects at the department’s 17 national laboratories.gThe deployment of small modular reactors to unleash America’s energy,” the spokesman continued.

“Relax, we’re just starting out,” the spokesman said.

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