U.S. secretary backs reviving reprocessing, proposes 'innovation campuses' for fuel and waste
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Summary
Secretary Wright told an audience in Paris the U.S. plans to reestablish enrichment, pursue reprocessing in partnership with industry and host multiple 'innovation campuses' for fabrication, reactors and disposal, describing an opt‑in market approach for long‑term repositories.
U.S. Secretary Wright said the United States will pursue a revival of domestic nuclear fuel-cycle capabilities, including enrichment and reprocessing, and described an approach centered on voluntary, competitive 'nuclear innovation campuses.'
Asked by an audience member about restoring reprocessing and recycling capacity, Wright said the U.S. "banned reprocessing foolishly way back in the 1970s" and that the administration plans to reestablish uranium enrichment and to develop innovation campuses that could include reprocessing, fuel fabrication and reactors.
"Who wants to host a nuclear innovation campus that'll have reprocessing and fuel fabrication and enrichment and and nuclear reactors?" Wright asked rhetorically. He said states and governors are signaling interest and that the plan is to offer opt-in market mechanisms so multiple long-term repositories would be developed rather than a single, imposed site.
Wright acknowledged the U.S. nuclear industry has atrophied and that ramping up will be slow and initially costly, but argued higher volume and innovation would drive costs down over time. He said reprocessing would reduce long-term waste volumes and, after reprocessing, a smaller amount of long-term waste would be disposed locally.
The secretary also referenced international partnerships, thanking a French company (named in the exchange) as a key partner and saying he planned future visits to French reprocessing and disposal facilities to learn from their experience.
Next steps: Wright's remarks outline a policy direction emphasizing industrial partnerships, retooled domestic fuel-cycle capabilities and competitive siting for repositories; no legal authorizations, procurement plans or timelines were announced during the session.
