The NRC (or the Commission) issued a proposed rule on February 26, 2026 to regulate commercial fusion under its byproduct material framework rather than as a traditional nuclear power reactor. These regulations aim to provide...more
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
In late February 2026, the NRC issued a proposed rule titled Regulatory Framework for Fusion Machines, which regulates the possession, use and production of byproduct material associated with fusion machines under Part 30...more
The NRC’s Office of Investigations recently published its Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, summarizing its activities from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. In FY 2025, OI opened 90 cases, a 9% increase from...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
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) inspection program plays a key role in overseeing new nuclear power reactor construction. The agency recently issued updates to its construction inspection guidance as part of a...more
Here are curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US: • FL AG Energized About Reducing Regulatory Burdens on...more
Florida AG James Uthmeier and Last Energy, Inc. filed a petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) seeking a declaratory order stating that the licensing requirements under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 are...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
The NRC has issued a Federal Register notice confirming the January 8, 2026 effective date of its direct final rule implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14270, Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American...more
The NRC saw major staffing transitions in 2025, including an unprecedented number of vacancies at the senior staff level. As 2026 kicks off, the Commission has returned to a full slate of five, and the agency has filled...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 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently released Draft Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) DSS-ISG-2025-XX, Treatment of Certain Loss-of-Coolant Accident Locations as Beyond-Design-Basis Accidents. The draft guidance, if...more
On November 18, 2025, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its Staff Requirements Memorandum for SECY-24-0009, which proposed changes to the NRC Enforcement Policy governing regulated materials and civil penalties. The...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
Key Takeaways - New Circuit Split on Tort Liability for Nuclear Incidents: Before last year, federal appellate courts consistently looked to federal safety regulations to define the standard of care in tort suits related...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
On June 18, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Nuclear Regulatory Commission v. Texas, 605 U.S. ___ (2025), authored by Justice Kavanaugh with Justices Gorsuch, Thomas, and Alito dissenting....more
In connection with President Donald Trump’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, the United States and the United Kingdom unveiled a slate of new and expanded agreements designed to accelerate cooperation in nuclear...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