In these comments, NIA commends the NRC for evaluating current approaches and exploring new ones for licensing microreactors and other low-consequence reactors. We first provide comments and procedural suggestions on a proposal that has been put forward by other stakeholders and that could be implemented quickly. We then provide feedback and procedural suggestions on the topics raised at NRC’s public workshop on “Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Low Consequence Reactors Rulemaking” on July 17-18, 2025.
New Nuclear Energy Guide for State Policymakers
This 2025 update of the Guide incorporates new information since the 2023 update.
This Guide serves as an introduction to new nuclear energy technologies and policies for state-level policymakers and stakeholders. The first part of this Guide describes new reactor technology and its benefits, provides an overview of enabling federal policies, and reviews state options to incentivize local development of new reactors. The second part of the Brief provides case studies of emerging state leaders in these technologies:
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Nuclear projects in Wyoming
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Energy Northwest’s plans in Washington State
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The state of play in Virginia and the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium
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Texas’ leadership in deploying new nuclear energy
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New York's Leadership on Nuclear Energy
Finally, the last section of this Guide is a compendium of topical briefs that elaborate the characteristics of new reactors with respect to safety, economic benefits, waste management, the flexibility and dispatchability of new nuclear power, and its timing and development. These briefs also include one-pagers on key legislative provisions to spur nuclear innovation.
NIA held a webinar to announce the release of a new report, “New Nuclear Energy Guide for State Policymakers,” with speakers Zach Koshgarian of NIA, Cassandra Worthington of NIA, April Wade of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, Erich Scherer of NYSERDA, and Lauren Clay of Texas Nuclear Alliance. Thank you to our speakers and to everyone who attended.
This 2025 update of the Guide incorporates new information since the 2023 update. This Guide serves as an introduction to new nuclear energy technologies and policies for state-level policymakers and stakeholders.
This letter from NIA commends the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its recent progress in implementing the ADVANCE Act and the President's nuclear-related executive orders.
The Urgency of NRC Reform
This brief, authored by NIA President & CEO 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 successfully meet this moment.
This brief was last updated in July 2025
The DOE Loan Program Office's Role in U.S. Nuclear Energy Leadership
Nuclear energy is an important technology for U.S. energy security and competitiveness, and the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO) is essential to nuclear energy’s success. By investing in early-stage projects, the LPO accelerates technological advancement, attracts private capital, and ensures U.S. leadership in meeting rapidly growing global energy demand, enhancing our economic competitiveness, geopolitical influence and national security.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s LPO plays the crucial role of financing early mover projects to help bridge the gap between demonstrations and projects financeable with private capital.
This brief, by Dr. James Richards, discusses how the LPO's strategic financing model leverages limited federal appropriations to advance nuclear energy development and improve national and energy security.
Click here to read the report summary.
This NIA Fact Sheet highlights the deployment timeline of selected advanced reactors projects.
Last updated June 2025
This brief summary presents the impact of the Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office (LPO) in the context of nuclear commercialization. By strategically funding projects such as the Vogtle plant project and the Holtec-Palisades nuclear restart, the LPO funding helps bridge early-stage funding gaps and catalyzes private investment. The summary discusses how the LPO's strategic financing model leverages limited federal appropriations to advance nuclear energy development and improve national and energy security.
Click here to read the full report.
In today’s episode of the USEA Power Sector Podcast series on power sector leaders, Nuclear Innovation Alliance President and CEO Judi Greenwald answered questions from journalist Herman K. Trabish about what the Alliance is, what it does, what it has accomplished, and what its current priorities are in support of new nuclear technologies.
This fact sheet presents a comprehensive, information-dense summary of every directive contained in these EOs to show what new programs, initiatives, and regulatory changes are included. It also cites the specific section of each executive order from which every directive originates. The goal of this fact sheet is to answer the questions: “What do these EOs actually do?”, “Which federal agencies are responsible for what”, and “When are specific actions scheduled to take place?”
To read NIA's op-ed that accompanies this fact sheet, click here