Utah and Texas, alongside nuclear developer Last Energy, have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), seeking to ease regulations they claim hinder the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. The plaintiffs argue that the NRC licenses required for the construction and operation of these facilities are “incredibly costly,” rendering such projects economically unfeasible.
According to the filing, these smaller nuclear reactors are more cost-effective, require less nuclear fuel, and do not pose a threat to public health or safety. However, Last Energy said it was forced to abandon a $2 million SMR project in Texas due to “prohibitive federal regulations.” The plaintiffs contend that the NRC’s rules for small nuclear reactors “hinder the development of safe and reliable nuclear power.”
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“The NRC imposes complicated, costly and time-intensive requirements that even the smallest and safest SMRs and microreactors — down to those not strong enough to power an LED lightbulb — must satisfy to acquire and maintain a construction and operating license,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit follows recent moves in both states to bolster nuclear energy. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently announced “Operation Gigawatt,” a $20.4 million initiative to develop carbon-free nuclear power infrastructure in the state. Meanwhile, in Texas, the state’s Public Utility Commission has recommended expanding nuclear energy to improve grid reliability and energy security.
Critics, including the group Utah Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy, have voiced concerns about the potential risks of loosening federal regulations. The group argues the lawsuit’s claims about how safe SMRs are may be misleading and that regulations are necessary to ensure public safety.
“It’s totally disingenuous for them to say that this is safe and that there’s basically no danger,” Stanley Holmes, outreach coordinator for Utah Citizens Advocating Renewable Energy, said. “They’re trying to have the NRC dumb down, or weaken, its standards.”
A spokesperson for the NRC stated that the agency will address the lawsuit in court filings.
[Karah Rucker]
UTAH AND TEXAS WANT TO BUILD MORE SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS-
AND THEY’RE SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DO SO.
JOINING THE STATES IS NUCLEAR DEVELOPER LAST ENERGY- WHICH SAYS CURRENT LAWS HAVE PREVENTED IT FROM BUILDING THESE FACILITIES IN THE U.S.
THE SUIT TARGETS THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION-
CLAIMING ITS REGULATIONS HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL MODULAR REACTORS AND MICROREACTORS.
ACCORDING TO THE FILING, THESE SMALLER REACTORS ARE CHEAPER, USE LESS NUCLEAR FUEL, AND POSE NO THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY.
THE PLAINTIFFS ARGUE THAT SUCH REACTORS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN NRC LICENSES FOR CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION.
THESE LICENSES THEY SAY CAN BE INCREDIBLY COSTLY TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN-
MAKING THESE PROJECTS ECONOMICALLY UNFEASIBLE FOR DEVELOPERS.
LAST ENERGY PREVIOUSLY SPENT $2 MILLION ATTEMPTING TO BUILD SMALL NUCLEAR REACTORS IN TEXAS BUT ABANDONED THE PROJECT DUE TO WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS “PROHIBITIVE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.”
THE LAWSUIT COMES AFTER UTAH GOVERNOR SPENCER COX ANNOUNCED OPERATION GIGAWATT-
A MORE THAN 20 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO SUPPORT CARBON-FREE NUCLEAR POWER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE.
MEANWHILE, THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS RECENTLY RECOMMENDED THE STATE DEPLOY MORE NUCLEAR POWER TO ENHANCE ENERGY SECURITY AND GRID RELIABILITY.
HOWEVER, CRITICS OF THE SUIT-
SUCH AS THE GROUP UTAH CITIZENS ADVOCATING RENEWABLE ENERGY-
ARGUE THAT RELAXING FEDERAL REGULATIONS COULD COMPROMISE SAFETY.
THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTENDS THAT THE CLAIMS ABOUT HOW SAFE THESE REACTORS ARE CAN BE MISLEADING.
A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NRC STATED THAT THE AGENCY WILL ADDRESS THE LAWSUIT IN COURT FILINGS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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