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This factsheet summarizes the priorities at the federal level that are needed to ensure the success of new nuclear energy deployment, emphasizing the importance of demonstration projects, fuel availability, financing tools, and technology-neutral tax credits.

This fact sheet is part of a series of NIA publications and serves as a summary of insights drawn from several recent publications that are in this series. It also provides links to these more specific publications for those who want a deeper dive into each topic. Together, these publications provide essential insights for those newly exploring nuclear energy as well as those seeking concise information crucial to nuclear energy innovation and deployment.

NIA published a fact sheet about nuclear waste and innovative methods for its safe and long-term management. This fact sheet demystifies nuclear waste, outlines existing management methods and highlights developments and innovations in the field of nuclear waste management.  

This factsheet is part of a series of NIA publications that provides essential insights for those newly exploring nuclear energy as well as those seeking concise information crucial to nuclear energy innovation and deployment.   

In response to the NRC's proposed FY2025 fee rule, NIA urged the agency to better support near-term advanced reactor development.  NIA submitted a formal comment recommending that NRC broaden its interpretation of activities eligible for reduced hourly rates under the ADVANCE Act. NIA recommends a more inclusive, plain-language interpretation of the Act. NIA believes that the NRC’s current interpretation of Section 201 is too narrow and should include additional licensing activities such as early site permits, construction permits, design certifications, and standard design approvals.

Environmental review reform at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is needed to accelerate deployment of new nuclear reactors and increase the role of nuclear energy to meet U.S. energy needs. This paper provides background on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its requirements to perform Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), summarizes current NRC environmental review practices, assesses the need for a categorical exclusion from NEPA EIS requirements for microreactors, and identifies necessary procedures to establish and implement a categorical exclusion. 

Establishing a categorical exclusion for microreactors would accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear energy while ensuring sufficient regulatory oversight. This approach would conserve agency and applicant resources, reduce unnecessary delays, and enable microreactors to provide clean, reliable, and abundant energy to support energy security and climate goals. 

U.S. nuclear energy leadership depends on the success of the early mover projects that are just getting under way. Policies that reduce the financial and technological risk associated with these projects pave the way to realizing the advantages that nuclear power provides at scale.  

One such policy with a successful track record is the use of tax credits to encourage the commercialization of technologies important to U.S. interests. Tax credits can significantly reduce the risk associated with early mover projects. This document serves as a companion to the previous work that NIA has done on clean energy tax credits. It discusses several important credits and their implications for commercializing advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. 

This brief is part of a series of NIA publications that seeks to provide essential insights for those newly exploring nuclear energy as well as those seeking concise information crucial to nuclear energy innovation and deployment. 

This brief authored by NIA Executive Director Judi Greenwald connects the role of advanced nuclear energy in meeting climate and energy security goals with the urgent need for NRC reform to enable advanced nuclear energy. It outlines the short-, medium- and long-term NRC reforms that are necessary to achieve that goal. It provides recommendations for action by Congress and the NRC and highlights several of NIA's recommendations for improving licensing efficiency. NIA developed this brief to serve as a guide for policymakers, the NRC itself, and key stakeholders in considering and then taking action to ensure the NRC can "become an agile, modern, risk-informed, and performance-based regulator to successfully meet this moment."

This brief was last updated in March 2025

On October 31, 2024, the NRC published the proposed Part 53 rule in the Federal Register for public comment (Docket ID NRC-2019-0062). Stakeholders still have concerns about the current draft of Part 53. Fifteen stakeholder organizations participated in a workshop consensus process that culminated in this document.  

This comment focuses on select aspects of the proposed Part 53 rule where there was strong stakeholder consensus on changes or clarifications. By addressing stakeholder concerns and refining the rule, the NRC can create a regulatory environment that supports the safe, timely, and cost-effective deployment of advanced reactors. 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has worked diligently over the past five years to develop a risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive regulatory framework in 10 CFR Part 53 (“Part 53”) for advanced reactors.  

NIA submitted comments on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's proposed advanced reactor regulations. These regulations, known as 10 CFR Part 53, could help enable the more efficient, effective, and predictable licensing of novel advanced reactors. The proposed rules, however, have major challenges that would limit applicants' ability to use the new licensing pathways. NIA believes that the changes recommended in its comments can help create a rule that is both usable and useful. 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has worked diligently over the past five years to develop a risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive regulatory framework in 10 CFR Part 53 (“Part 53”) for advanced reactors.  

In a joint letter with other NGO’s NIA which provides the unique perspectives on the Part 53 rulemaking process from several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a shared interest in the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors to support public clean energy and energy security needs. 

Making the changes described in this letter would help produce a final rule that is practicable for industry and ensures that the NRC fulfills its mission.  

NIA Research Director Dr. Patrick White participated in the first Nuclear Energy Education Day (NEED) in Lansing, Michigan on March 6th. He testified before the Michigan Senate Energy and Environment Committee and answered questions from lawmakers about opportunities for existing and new nuclear energy in Michigan!