Back
Politics

US Department of Energy Advances Experimental Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program

Generated on: Last updated: 7 sources
View source

U.S. Accelerates Advanced Nuclear Reactor Development

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is leading an accelerated program to construct and test advanced nuclear reactor designs developed by private firms. The initiative, established following an executive order, aims to have at least three experimental reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.

The program involves a shift in regulatory oversight from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), significant changes to internal safety and environmental rules, and has attracted investments from technology companies seeking reliable power for data centers.

Background and Program Establishment

The Reactor Pilot Program was initiated after President Donald Trump met with U.S. nuclear power industry executives in May. During this meeting, Joseph Dominguez, CEO of Constellation Energy, stated that regulatory and permitting delays impact new nuclear plant development.

Following this, an executive order formally designated the DOE with oversight of commercial test reactors and mandated Energy Secretary Chris Wright to approve at least three reactors under the program, targeting criticality by July 4, 2026.

Regulatory Framework

The program operates under the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, with the NRC serving in a consulting capacity. The NRC, established in 1975, has historically been responsible for safety oversight of commercial reactors.

A memorandum of understanding between the NRC and DOE outlines a framework for the NRC to establish an expedited pathway for approving advanced reactor designs that have received authorization and testing from the DOE.

The DOE confirmed that approximately 30 subject matter experts are reviewing proposals and affirmed its commitment to maintaining high safety standards. Four projects have undergone preliminary design reviews, with initial approvals expected in early 2026.

Participating Companies and Progress

Companies Achieving Criticality

As of late June, two companies have achieved criticality under the program:

  • Antares Nuclear: Achieved criticality on June 4. CEO Jordan Bramble expressed support for the DOE pathway for prototype reactors.
  • Valar Atomics: Achieved criticality on June 18, producing tens of kilowatts of heat from a reactor core in Utah. CEO Isaiah Taylor described the acceleration as necessary for the nuclear industry. The company is also involved in a lawsuit against the NRC regarding its authority to regulate small reactors. Valar transported its reactor prototype to Utah via a U.S. military C-17 transport aircraft.

Companies Under Construction

  • Radiant Industries: Assembling its reactor at Idaho National Laboratory's DOME facility. The company reported completing its Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis with DOE regulators, aiming for reactor startup in summer 2026. The reactor uses spherical fuel elements.
  • Aalo Atomics: Reported completing its Final Design Review and expects to finalize construction in summer 2026.

Other Selected Projects

Eleven advanced reactor projects were selected for the Reactor Pilot Program in August, including projects from Oklo. Oklo's CEO, Jacob DeWitte, commented on the program's potential to accelerate permitting. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was a member of Oklo's board of directors until his confirmation to the DOE in February.

TerraPower's Commercial Project

TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, has begun construction of an advanced nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave final approval for construction in March 2025.

The plant, which uses liquid sodium metal cooling instead of water, is expected to be operational by 2031 and will produce enough electricity for approximately 500,000 homes.

Key details include:

  • The U.S. Department of Energy provided approximately $2 billion in funding through the Infrastructure Law
  • TerraPower has agreements with Meta to power data centers
  • The project is part of a U.S. Department of Energy pilot program initiated during the first Trump administration
  • The adjacent coal plant is partially converting to natural gas, preserving about 100 jobs

Rule Changes and Safety Modifications

The DOE revised internal rules that govern reactor operations, including safety systems, environmental protections, site security, and accident investigations. According to analysis by NPR, which obtained copies of the new orders, more than 750 pages were removed from earlier versions, reducing the documentation to approximately one-third of its original length.

Key modifications include:

  • Reduced security requirements for reactors
  • Loosened protections for groundwater and the environment
  • Elimination of at least one key safety role (Cognizant System Engineer for critical safety systems)
  • Reduced record-keeping requirements
  • Increased allowable radiation exposure for workers before triggering an official accident investigation
  • Removal of the "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) standard for radiation exposure
  • Removal of the mandate to use the "best available technology" for protecting water supplies from radioactive material discharge
  • Consolidation of seven security directives (over 500 pages) into a single 23-page order
  • Softened language regarding radioactive discharges, changing "prohibited" to "should be avoided" in certain contexts

The DOE removed the requirement for public disclosure through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for these experimental reactors. The DOE announced this change in the Federal Register, citing the inherent safety features and passive safety systems of advanced reactor designs as justification.

In January, the DOE defended the changes, stating that "the reduction of unnecessary regulations will increase innovation in the industry without jeopardizing safety." In a later statement, the DOE said it "has recently completed the process of making these Nuclear Energy Orders and Standards publicly available to ensure broad public access."

Industry Perspectives

Proponents of the program have stated that the acceleration is necessary for revitalizing the nuclear industry. Independent nuclear consultant Nick Touran noted that smaller reactor designs inherently present a reduced worst-case accident scenario compared to larger existing reactors.

Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares, cited the DOE's long history of operating experimental nuclear reactors and established safety review processes.

Chris Levesque, CEO of TerraPower, stated that the project demonstrates that new nuclear technology is "real" and that communities are now competing to host nuclear plants.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox advocated for nuclear energy, stating, "If you are serious about energy abundance, you have to be serious about nuclear energy."

Concerns and Criticisms

  • Allison Macfarlane, a professor at the University of British Columbia and former NRC chairman under President Barack Obama, raised concerns that the program's tight deadline, political pressure, and reduced transparency could compromise safety. She stated that even a small release of radioactive material could cause damage and cautioned against relying solely on the DOE's analysis for commercial deployment.

  • Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the changes as a "wrecking ball" to the existing regulatory system. He noted that current test reactor designs are primarily theoretical and argued that the absence of real-world experience necessitates more rigorous safety and environmental reviews. He also cautioned that even small reactors could pose risks if located near populated areas without adequate emergency planning.

  • Heidy Klaaf, chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute, expressed apprehension regarding "manufactured timelines" for assessing novel reactor designs.

  • Christopher Hanson, former Chair of the NRC, stated that "secretly relaxing standards is not conducive to public trust required for nuclear energy's success."

  • Kathryn Huff, former head of the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, expressed concern regarding revisions to internal rules at Idaho National Laboratory that were not publicly disclosed. She noted that the timeline has been described as "aggressive."

  • Emily Caffrey, a health physicist, questioned the motivation behind removing requirements like "best available technology."

  • Environmental groups, represented by Lexi Tuddenham of HEAL Utah, expressed concerns about radioactive waste storage and taxpayer costs.

Drivers for Nuclear Expansion

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to increase electricity demand, with large data centers in the U.S. expected to increase energy consumption by approximately 130% by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

This demand has spurred interest in nuclear power among technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Meta seeking low-carbon energy sources.

The sector has attracted significant private and venture capital investments, including from Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen, with over $6 billion directed towards reactor development in recent years. The White House aims to increase U.S. nuclear capacity from 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050.

Separate Initiatives

The Pentagon is considering deploying small reactors to military bases through Project Janus, a separate initiative.

The city of Kemmerer, Wyoming, anticipates economic benefits from job creation from the TerraPower project.