Podcast - Hot Topics in Nuclear Waste
Hogan Lovells' Mary Anne Sullivan on the floor of Hogan Lovells Global Energy Summit
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
On May 20, 2025, the Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”) announced that it is the first American utility to submit a small modular reactor (“SMR”) construction permit application (“CPA”) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission...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
The Trump Administration recently issued four Executive Orders (EOs) focused on nuclear technologies that, collectively, aim to “unleash the domestic nuclear base,” “reestablish the United States as the global leader in...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
The four orders address nearly all aspects of the federal government’s civilian nuclear apparatus, though some question arise about implementation. Friday, President Trump signed four new Executive Orders (the...more
As we have previously written, the rise in data center development has significantly increased predicted electricity demand. As a reliable, carbon-free source of base load power with an average capacity factor of 93% in the...more
On Friday, May 23, 2025, President Trump signed four executive orders related to nuclear energy, three of which seek to expedite approval processes for permitting new nuclear reactors. The orders, which build upon...more
Directs the Department of Energy to submit a comprehensive fuel cycle report, expand enrichment and reprocessing under the Defense Production Act (DPA), and fund reactor restarts and construction through the Loan Programs...more
Directs the Department of Energy to reform national lab processes and establish a pilot program to approve at least three advanced reactor test sites outside the labs, with operations targeted by July 4, 2026. Requires...more
Directs the Departments of Defense and Energy to deploy advanced nuclear reactors for critical military and AI infrastructure, starting with operation at a domestic military base by September 30, 2028, and site deployment at...more
The new administration has repeatedly expressed its staunch support for nuclear energy. President Trump’s first-day executive order “Unleashing American Energy” specifically encouraged the development of nuclear energy...more
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory, has published an updated set of recommendations to reform and streamline nuclear energy licensing. The INL/RPT-25-84292, “Recommendations...more
The nuclear energy industry continues to gain momentum and has a strong outlook for 2025 and beyond. This positive forecast is buoyed by support from both major political parties, increased demand, technical advancements, and...more
2024 was marked by significant developments in the nuclear energy sector, shaped by evolving regulatory frameworks, legislative action, and growing global interest in nuclear power. In the United States the Accelerating...more
DOE has slightly modified its evaluation process and is offering both previous and new applicants the opportunity to submit proposals for next generation nuclear power projects under the updated criteria....more
This is the seventh 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...more
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on March 24, 2025, reissued its $900 million solicitation for small modular nuclear reactors (Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Pathway to Deployment, DE-FOA-0003485) using funds from...more
Small modular reactors (SMRs) can be collocated with high demand customers such as data centers and large manufacturing and chemical facilities to provide electric energy and capacity to them directly. Behind-the-meter...more
United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) Secretary, Chris Wright, announced on February 5th the DOE’s priorities under the Trump Administration....more
Complaint filed United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 6:24-cv-00507) - KEY TAKEAWAYS - The States of Texas and Utah, together with private developer Last Energy, have sued to exempt certain...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service newly released Section 45V hydrogen tax credit guidance now includes nuclear plants if certain criteria are met - unlocking up to $3/kg for clean...more
With a renewed focus on domestic energy production and regulatory reform, the incoming administration signals significant shifts in U.S. energy and climate priorities. The incoming Trump Administration will prioritize...more
Welcome to our 11th Issue of Currents 2024, our energy e-newsletter. This will be our last issue of 2024, and we want to sincerely thank you for reading Currents for the past eight years. Our goal is to relay top trending...more
On Monday, September 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) published an updated version of its Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear report. The updated report builds off of the initial report,...more