Nuclear startups have raised significant funding, exceeding $1 billion in recent months. While data center electricity demands have been one factor, recent federal changes to nuclear safety policies could further accelerate reactor development, potentially affecting human and environmental health.
Under the Trump administration, the Department of Energy has revised oversight rules for nuclear power plants built on its properties, as reported by NPR. About one-third of the rulebook has been removed, with multiple sections heavily revised. Previous mandatory requirements, including those to limit groundwater and environmental contamination, are now recommendations. Workers may now be exposed to higher radiation doses, and security protocols are largely determined by individual companies.
These new regulations were developed without public consultation or notification. They only apply to reactors built on DOE property, while reactors constructed elsewhere remain under Nuclear Regulatory Commission supervision. Several startups are developing demonstration reactors on DOE land, aiming to meet a Trump administration target date of July 4, 2026.
