In recent years, the world has seen a historic rise in energy demand — an acceleration of the “Age of Electrification”. This has been driven by a number of factors, including the global electrification of industry,...more
While much has been done to accelerate the deployment of new nuclear generation, there remains an as-yet unutilized resource that could be leveraged to begin construction of certain facilities now. There has been...more
The nuclear energy industry entered 2025 at a pivotal moment as rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, and electrification collided with decarbonization, energy security, and industrial...more
Tennessee has been one of the centers of nuclear innovation in the United States since the first days of the Manhattan Project. Today, Tennessee remains a leader in the nuclear industry and is home to the Oak Ridge National...more
After a busy 2025 for the nuclear power industry and its federal regulators, the opening days of 2026 have made clear that this trend is only accelerating in the year ahead. With data centers, cloud computing, and AI driving...more
Fusion energy, the same process that powers our sun and stars, is rapidly moving from scientific theory to commercial reality. In a fusion reaction, two light atoms—typically deuterium and tritium—combine to form a helium...more
The nuclear power industry in 2025 is undergoing a renaissance, fueled by the urgent need for reliable energy to meet growing demands from sectors like AI and data centers....more
This is the tenth article in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Energy & Natural Resources thought leadership series titled “Going Nuclear: A Sustainable Solution to Rising Energy Demand.” The series will explore the changing landscape...more
As part of the response to four executive orders focused on expanding and accelerating the development and use of nuclear energy, the US Department of Energy and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission have signed Addendum 9 to...more
The federal government's recent momentum toward deploying advanced nuclear technologies has brought renewed attention to a long-standing but often overlooked question: which agencies actually have the authority to build and...more
The new Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD), formalized earlier in September through a memorandum of understanding between the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK), aims to foster collaboration on strategic science...more
The Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy ushers in new regulatory and commercial collaboration between the UK and US aimed at rapidly accelerating nuclear energy deployment - The partnership, announced on 15...more
As the United States faces escalating energy demands amid advancing resource-intensive technology and aging infrastructure, nuclear power has rematerialized as a central pillar of national and state-level energy strategies....more
In just over one year since its passing, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act has begun to unlock new opportunities for advanced nuclear energy projects, streamline...more
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled its Reactor Pilot Program – also known as the 10 Reactor Fleet Program – in reaction to one of the May 23, 2025 Executive Orders directed at nuclear energy. Section 5 of Executive...more
On May 23, 2025, President Trump issued four executive orders regarding the development of nuclear energy. These orders encompass reforms to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) nuclear reactor testing, accelerated deployment of...more
On June 18, 2025 the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Request for Application (“RFA”) for a Reactor Pilot Program to construct and operate advanced nuclear reactors outside of the National Laboratories. This program is...more
As the nuclear energy sector enters a period of renewed growth, companies face a complex array of legal, regulatory, and operational challenges. From liability frameworks governing radiation exposure to evolving enforcement...more
As the U.S. faces surging electricity demand from AI data centers, infrastructure upgrades and decarbonization goals, nuclear energy is re-emerging as a viable clean power source. Central to this 2025 revival is the U.S....more
Welcome to Dorsey’s Energy Law: Month in Review. We provide this update to our clients to identify significant developments in the previous month. Please reach out to any of the authors, listed above, to discuss these issues....more
On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed four Executive Orders intended to expedite the development and deployment of American nuclear technology. The orders would affect the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”), the...more
President Donald Trump signed four executive orders (EOs) on May 23, 2025, related to nuclear energy—three of which seek to expedite approval processes for permitting new nuclear reactors. The EOs collectively aim to harness...more
In our earlier post, “Recent Federal Developments For Advanced Nuclear Technologies,” we reported on the new administration’s strong support for nuclear energy, as demonstrated by President Trump’s first-day executive order...more
Trump's EOs Intend to Spur U.S. Nuclear Revival - On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed four Executive Orders (“the EOs”) intended to spur a nuclear industry revival in the U.S. through a revamped and streamlined...more
On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed four new executive orders (the Orders) to “usher in a nuclear energy renaissance.” In an article, the White House explained that the Orders provide “a path forward for nuclear...more