REFORMING NUCLEAR REACTOR TESTING: In a significant move today, President Donald J. Trump has enacted an Executive Order aimed at revamping the National Laboratory processes involved in reactor testing within the Department of Energy (DOE).
- The Executive Order recognizes that the design, construction, and operation of advanced reactors, which fall under the Department’s control, are currently designated for research purposes. Hence, they are firmly within DOE’s jurisdiction.
- The Order assigns the Secretary of Energy several crucial tasks:
- To issue clear guidelines on what constitutes a qualified test reactor and to streamline the application process for such reactors.
- To revise existing regulations and procedures to significantly accelerate the review, approval, and deployment of advanced reactors, aiming to have operational test reactors ready within two years of an application being completed.
- To establish a pilot program for the construction and operation of at least three reactors outside of National Laboratories, contracted to and funded by the DOE, with a target date for achieving criticality set for July 4, 2026.
- To either eliminate or fast-track internal environmental reviews for all authorizations, permits, approvals, and activities related to reactor testing.
SPURRING NUCLEAR INNOVATION: President Trump is dedicated to re-establishing the United States as a frontrunner in the nuclear energy sector, ensuring a stable, varied, and affordable energy supply that will drive national prosperity and technological progress.
- Historically, the United States led the charge in civilian nuclear power development through the Atomic Energy Commission and the National Reactor Testing Station (now Idaho National Laboratory), among other federal initiatives. However, the commercial deployment of new nuclear technologies has stagnated in recent decades.
- Excessive regulation from the federal government has hindered domestic advancement and implementation of advanced reactors.
- Despite pioneering efforts to design and construct the first Generation IV reactor for commercial application, the U.S. has since relinquished the lead to foreign nations in the development of these advanced technologies.
- Advanced reactors hold transformative potential, opening doors to new applications for data centers, microchip manufacturing, petrochemical production, healthcare, desalination, hydrogen production, and various other industries.
- By maximizing the DOE’s oversight of next-generation nuclear technologies still in development, this Executive Order paves the way for American innovators to develop nuclear technologies that could enhance economic growth and strengthen national security.
UNLOCKING AMERICAN ENERGY: President Trump champions all forms of reliable, dispatchable energy, advocating for the harnessing of nuclear, fossil fuels, and emerging technologies to achieve American energy independence and stimulate economic growth.
- From Day One, President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency aimed at dismantling bureaucratic obstacles, igniting innovation, and restoring America’s status as the global energy powerhouse.
By unleashing American energy potential, the administration aims to create jobs, foster economic prosperity, improve the U.S. trade balance, enhance competitiveness against adversarial foreign nations, fortify alliances, and contribute to global peace and security.
