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NRC chairman says U.S. must rebuild nuclear capacity to close strategic gap
Summary
Chairman Nee told Utah listeners the United States risks losing industrial and geopolitical ground unless it accelerates nuclear construction, citing bipartisan support, new federal directives, and a push to make the NRC an "enabling" regulator.
Chairman Nee, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told an audience in Utah that the United States is falling behind global competitors and must rebuild its nuclear capacity to preserve energy and national security. "Sixty reactors in China in 30 years, in The United States, 3," he said, arguing the gap creates a strategic risk if the U.S. cannot deliver reactors domestically.
Nee framed the current moment as distinct from past "renaissance" cycles because of bipartisan congressional backing, presidential executive action, and increased private capital. He said the NRC's role is changing to support deployment while maintaining safety, describing the agency's new mandate as "enabling the safe use of nuclear power." The chairman identified three pillars—capacity, deployment and credibility—that he said the U.S. must strengthen to lead the sector again.
Nee tied the policy shift to concrete federal efforts and state interest, saying the Department of Energy's programs and recent legislation create an opportunity to scale projects. He warned that allied countries will choose reactor suppliers that already have licensed, operating plants, and said that predictable, timely licensing decisions are essential if the United States expects to remain a preferred supplier.
