"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has in recent weeks proposed a process for approving microreactors and finalized one for reactors with nontraditional designs."
"The United States has taken one of its biggest steps yet to encourage the construction of commercial microreactors — the latest move in its broader push to overhaul the country’s nuclear regulatory processes.
In late April, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission released its draft rule for a proposed new licensing pathway for commercial reactors. Known as Part 57, the regulation tailors the application process to account for the fundamental differences between a so-called microreactor, designed to generate 20 megawatts of electricity or less, and a behemoth traditional reactor such as a Westinghouse AP1000, which pumps out 60 times as much power. The rule, which would allow eligible projects to obtain dual permits to both construct and operate a reactor, is meant to encourage fleet-scale deployment of the technology.
While no commercial microreactors are in operation anywhere in the world today, some corners of the U.S. industry see them as a way to slash the time and money it takes to build a nuclear plant by harnessing the benefits of assembly-line production.
The proposal comes after a string of actions by the NRC to speed up the regulatory process for nuclear reactors that use different designs or technology than the country’s existing fleet of 94 large-scale light-water reactors. The regulatory changes, spurred by a Biden-era law and encouraged by the Trump administration, have been widely celebrated by the industry — but they have rankled some who fear the NRC is jeopardizing safety by moving too fast."
