Topic
Policy & Regulation
Nuclear policy and regulation decide how fast anything gets built: NRC licensing rules, the ADVANCE Act's 36 implementation milestones, DOE funding programs and the executive-order reforms rewriting the framework. NNN covers each rulemaking and what it changes for developers.
Start here: NRC reactor licensing process, explained — NNN's reference piece on this topic.
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
TerraPower's guaranteed-price reactor fleet, Cernavoda's drought shutdown, Spain's phase-out retreat and Aalo's criticality push made a week about bankability.
Spain extends Almaraz operating licence to 2030, delaying phase-out
Spain's government renewed Almaraz's operating licence to June 2030, pushing back phase-out shutdowns set for 2027 and 2028 while keeping the 2035 exit date.
The 7 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From China's eight-reactor approval to Zaporizhzhia's power risk, this week's nuclear news was about turning plans, fuel and regulation into operating reality.
The ADVANCE Act, explained: what changed and where the NRC stands
The ADVANCE Act of 2024 cut NRC fees for advanced reactors, opened foreign ownership and set 36 implementation milestones — 31 were done by April 2026.
DOE nuclear funding, explained: every program paying for the buildout
DOE backs nuclear through loans, cost-shared demos, HALEU contracts and tax credits — $17.5bn in supply chain loans leads the 2026 lineup. The full map.
NRC reactor licensing process, explained
The NRC licenses new reactors through staged safety, environmental and public reviews under Parts 50 and 52, with Part 53 still in development.
How states procure new nuclear power
States buy new nuclear through a chain of planning, site readiness, competitive bids, financing, licensing and ratepayer review, not one approval.
DOE picks 278 Genesis Mission projects; nuclear takes largest award
The US Department of Energy selected 278 Genesis Mission projects backed by $5B, with the $60M INL-led Prometheus nuclear project the largest award.
DOE puts $60M behind INL-led Prometheus to build reactors with AI
DOE awarded $60M over three years to the INL-led Prometheus project, a 32-partner push to apply AI across reactor design, licensing and construction.
Power NJ Act, explained
New Jersey's Power NJ Act creates a competitive procurement path for at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear, with deadlines running to July 2028.
New Jersey keeps its 1,100 MW nuclear procurement moving
Governor Mikie Sherrill keeps New Jersey's Power NJ Act on a procurement clock, with at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear and deadlines to July 2028.
New Jersey sets timeline for 1,100 MW nuclear procurement
New Jersey's Power NJ Act sets a 1,100 MW nuclear procurement clock with 180-day, 60-day, 90-day and 12-month milestones.
Russia grants site licences for first two Kola units
Russia's regulator has granted site licences for the first two Kola nuclear units, clearing an early permitting step for the new plant.
New Jersey opens 1,100 MW nuclear procurement process
New Jersey launched a procurement program for at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear, giving the state its first competitive route to build.
Newcleo lays out NRC licensing path for 200 MWe reactor
Newcleo filed a Regulatory Engagement Plan with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its 200 MWe LFR-AS-200, opening pre-application talks.
NRC clears Westinghouse AP1000 exemption request
The NRC approved Westinghouse's AP1000 exemption request, removing a scheduling hurdle and keeping the design-certification renewal path open.
NRC proposes removing ALARA from radiation protection rules
The NRC wants to replace ALARA with a graded approach and raise effluent dose limits, reframing how radiation compliance is judged.
NITI Aayog maps SHANTI Act 2025 implementation
NITI Aayog held a July 10 consultation in New Delhi with eight named officials and three workstreams on implementing the SHANTI Act 2025.
The 5 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From AP1000 renewal to Chernobyl decommissioning, the week's five biggest nuclear stories all pointed at execution, not hype.
NRC lets Westinghouse seek AP1000 design certification renewal
The NRC says Westinghouse can seek renewal of the AP1000 design certification, keeping a reusable licensing path open for future reactors.
Core Analysis: The license path is the product now
The NRC's NEPA rewrite, Clinch River, and Poland's CfD request all point to the same shift: the licensing path is becoming part of the product.
NRC targets faster nuclear licensing with NEPA streamlining proposal
The NRC would narrow NEPA reviews to impacts it can regulate, add deadlines and page limits, and give applicants a faster review path.
NRC opens environmental review of Holtec's Palisades new-build
The NRC has begun the environmental review of Holtec's plan to site two SMR-300 reactors at Palisades, pushing the Michigan project deeper into licensing.
