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!
In this fact sheet, NIA provides a brief overview of the new GenIII+ SMR Program discusses how public-private partnerships are critical to the successful deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies. It also emphasizes the program’s focus on building an “orderbook” of reactors and leveraging performance milestone-based funding to drive project success.
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.
NIA's response in support of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Interim Final Rule to update, streamline, and relocate the policies and procedures that are applicable to the use and administration of DOE's other transaction agreements (OTAs), which includes DOE's ability to utilize a performance milestone-based approach to public-private partnerships.
DOE-HQ-2024-0095-0005
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 Case for Continued Investment in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
This brief presents the case for continued investment in the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) to ensure the successful deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies. It discusses the many benefits that a successful ARDP brings with it and why continued investment should be prioritized. More specifically, the following topics and benefits are discussed:
- Providing new commercial use cases for advanced nuclear energy
- Creating benefits for other advanced nuclear energy projects
- Accelerating U.S. NRC licensing of advanced nuclear reactors
- Attracting private capital
- Creating high quality jobs both locally and nationally.
This brief was last updated in February 2025.
Methodology Review of the Tennessee Valley Authority Integrated Resource Planning Process
This methodology document is a companion to NIA’s comments on the TVA Draft Integrated Resource Plan. To view this methodology document, click the "Download" button below.
To view NIA's original comments to TVA's Draft Integrated Resource Plan, click the following link: Comments on Tennessee Valley Authority's 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan
Comments on Tennessee Valley Authority's 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan
NIA submitted comments on Tennessee Valley Authority’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan. In these comments, we recommend using updated and publicly available costs, adjusting the availability and construction timeline of SMRs and Generation IV reactors. We also propose alternative timelines and costs that we feel should be used and the justifications for doing so. To view these comments, click the "Download" button below.
These comments were informed by NIA's review of TVA's methodology. This methodology review can be found in a companion document to NIA's comments. To view this companion document, click the following link: Companion Document - Methodology Review of the TVA Integrated Resource Planning Process
Securing America's Energy Future with Domestic Uranium Enrichment
This brief discusses the critical need to increase domestic enrichment capacity to enable the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and reduce U.S. dependency on international entities in the nuclear fuel supply chain. It discusses the funding Congress has provided to the Department of Energy (DOE) to accomplish this goal, and the need for DOE to accelerate its efforts to partner with private industry and implement their HALEU availability program.
In this introduction to Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology, NIA's Dr. Patrick White provides a deep dive into the technical aspects of reactor concepts by discussing main takeaways, reactor characteristics that can help differentiate between advantages and challenges of advanced reactor technologies by examining the different types of designs.
on January 9, NIA's Judi Greenwald participated in U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur and Climate Governance Malaysia's webinar "Where Does Nuclear Energy Fit in the Energy Transition?" This session highlighted breakthrough innovations in reactor designs, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced fission systems, emphasizing their potential for enhanced safety, efficiency, and sustainability.