⚛️NRC approves 77-megawatt reactor while nuclear waste storage remains unsolved
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National Security
Technology & Innovation
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale's larger 77-megawatt small modular reactor design on June 24, cutting future licensing time by up to 30 months. This decision comes as the Department of Energy wants to streamline safety review requirements, despite having no permanent solution for radioactive waste storage with Nevada's Yucca Mountain facility blocked since 2010.
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Why This Matters
☢️ New reactors create more waste while existing waste lacks permanent storage:
The U.S. has 90,000 tons of nuclear waste sitting in temporary storage across 39 states with no permanent disposal plan, but regulators are approving new reactors that will create additional waste future generations must manage
🏭 Coal communities get nuclear facilities but may not understand long-term risks:
Utilities plan to build these reactors on former coal sites in West Virginia and Wyoming, offering jobs to communities that need economic alternatives, but residents may not receive full information about radioactive contamination risks or waste storage challenges
⚡ Safety reviews face pressure to move faster:
The Energy Department wants to reduce independent oversight and speed up licensing, which could reverse safety improvements made after Three Mile Island and Fukushima disasters
💰 Taxpayers subsidize nuclear industry while private companies keep profits:
The federal government provides loan guarantees, liability insurance, and waste storage for private nuclear companies, meaning the public bears enormous costs and risks while companies earn the profits
🎯 Small reactors create new security challenges:
These reactors will be deployed across the country with potentially less security than large plants, creating more potential targets in communities that may lack emergency response capabilities for nuclear incidents
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What type of nuclear reactor design did the NRC approve on June 24?
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How much time does pre-approval save utilities in future licensing?
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How many tons of nuclear waste currently sits in temporary storage across the U.S.?
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Where do utilities plan to build many of these small modular reactors?
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What role does the Department of Energy want to play in SMR licensing?
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How many states currently store nuclear waste in temporary facilities?
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What happened at Three Mile Island and Fukushima that led to improved safety requirements?
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How much does nuclear reactor decommissioning typically cost?
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What alternative energy sources could replace coal without nuclear waste problems?
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Small modular reactors will have the same security measures as large nuclear plants.
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