For the past several months, nuclear startups have been raising big bucks – right Above $1 billion As yet.
Their thirst for data centers and power has been a driving force. But recent changes in federal nuclear safety policies could trigger another spike that helps clear the way for faster reactor development, and at the potential cost to human and environmental health.
The Trump administration has quietly changed how the Energy Department oversees the safety and security of nuclear power plants built on its properties, according to a report. report from npr. About a third of the rulebook has been removed, and several sections have been heavily revised. Previous requirements, including limiting groundwater and environmental contamination, have now been suggested, and workers may be exposed to higher doses of radiation. Plant safety protocols are now largely company dependent.
According to NPR, the new rules were developed without public comment or notice. They apply only to reactors built on DOE property; Those built elsewhere are still subject to the oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Several startups are developing demonstration reactors on DOE property in hopes of meeting the Trump administration’s deadline of July 4, 2026.
