Podcast - Hot Topics in Nuclear Waste
Hogan Lovells' Mary Anne Sullivan on the floor of Hogan Lovells Global Energy Summit
As New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to renewable energy has been challenged both by Washington and by her own Administration’s evolving priorities, she has embarked on a new strategy to elevate the profile of...more
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently issued a direct final rule extending the duration of design certifications (DCs) for nuclear reactors from 15 to 40 years. The rule will automatically go into effect on...more
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently issued a final rule amending the licensing, inspection, special project, and annual fees for applicants and licensees for FY 2025, aligning with fee-related provisions in...more
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court, in NRC v. Texas, issued an opinion holding that the State of Texas did not have standing to challenge a license granted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to a private entity,...more
On 11 June, the British Government delivered its Spending Review for 2025 (Spending Review). Nuclear power featured as one of the cornerstone spending areas, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves describing the £30 billion in nuclear...more
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Nuclear Regulatory Commission, et al. v. Texas, et al., reinstated a license originally issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), permitting the storage of depleted...more
The US Supreme Court continues to reshape administrative law. In its recent decision, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, the Court unanimously (8-0) instructed federal courts to defer to...more
France is doubling down on nuclear energy. Once a symbol of national pride and now the backbone of its decarbonized electricity mix, nuclear power is experiencing a full-fledged renaissance in France. After years of...more
Texas emerged from its 89th legislative session with a sweeping set of laws aimed at cementing the state’s leadership in advanced nuclear energy. Through the passage of HB 14, SB 1535 and SB 1061, lawmakers demonstrated a...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
Politicians’ and tech giants’ embrace of nuclear energy to power AI heightens the urgency to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats....more
“While the financial markets have become comfortable with dismissing the tail risks associated with the president’s boldest policy proposals, President Trump has successfully enacted ambitious policy proposals, albeit perhaps...more
On May 23, 2025, President Trump issued four executive orders (EOs) as part of the administration’s effort to quadruple U.S. nuclear generating capacity by 2050, promote deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, build out...more
Trump's EOs Intend to Spur U.S. Nuclear Revival - On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed four Executive Orders (“the EOs”) intended to spur a nuclear industry revival in the U.S. through a revamped and streamlined...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
The latest nuclear energy-related Executive Orders aim to accelerate the development of new nuclear reactor technologies and projects in the United States, enhance national uranium mining, incentivize private investment in...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
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 U.S. Supreme Court on March 5, 2025, heard oral argument in two cases related to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) authority to license temporary spent fuel storage facilities that are not co-located with a...more
A recent decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reinstated claims seeking indemnification under the Price-Anderson Act. In reversing a decision by the US Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit...more
US Space Force announces new pilot program as industry insiders call for increased efficiency among government agencies. In early 2024, the US Space Force announced a $40 million pilot program to enable US combatant commands...more
Several years ago, the US government embarked on a project to standardize federal agency programs—including the NRC’s—for managing unclassified-but-sensitive information. At the NRC, this government-wide Controlled...more