Trump considers EO to expedite nuclear power, is that even possible, or responsible?

[kyzr]

Rubbish, we invented the nuclear reactor. We build reactors for everything from power plants to nuclear subs to nuclear power systems for deep space probes. We built the power plants inside the Voyager probes launched in the late 70s that are still operating beyond our solar system far far beyond their expected lifespan.

1. You are not paying attention. The US does not have any SMRs licensed for commercial operation. Yes we have them in Navy carriers and subs, etc., but none available to power new AI data-centers. Skip down to #3 as to why we don't have any. Utilities don't have the cash to battle the greenies and anti-nuke big money folks.

Which is why we should have been building more of them 10-20 years ago, pinning the urgency on building them now.

2. You're preaching to the choir.

Of course I'm not wrong. Democrats must first and foremost appease their environmental wacko base, and they do not want nuclear plants.

3. So would you risk $1,000,000,000 or more on building a new nuke plant or SMR knowing that the next democrat admin would stop it cold, like Cuomo shuttered Indian Point on a whim?

Now there you go using sound reasoning and logic! We are talking about far leftist democrats here. Joe Biden had all of us driving EVs by 2035 by hook or crook if necessary.

4. I'm not sure that even if congress passed a law ordering ANWR and all future nuke plants kept open and free from political closure unless a new law is passed closing them, if that would eliminate risk. One other thought is that if the Mag-7 let pols know that if they interfere with their new data-centers or powerplants their opponents would receive unlimited funding.

 

[toobfreak]

The US does not have any SMRs licensed for commercial operation. Yes we have them in Navy carriers and subs, etc., but none available to power new AI data-centers.

Maybe that is one thing Trump will be looking into correcting.

So would you risk $1,000,000,000 or more on building a new nuke plant or SMR knowing that the next democrat admin would stop it cold,

No, Trump needs to get the ball rolling and Congress needs to act so that even if a Dem gets into office, they would find it difficult and unpopular to try to stop it.

My biggest concern with nuclear power are the spent fuel rods. IMO, we need a reliable way of saving them up and launching them into the Sun rather than just bury them. The Sun just eats that stuff up.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

1. You are not paying attention. The US does not have any SMRs licensed for commercial operation. Yes we have them in Navy carriers and subs, etc., but none available to power new AI data-centers. Skip down to #3 as to why we don't have any. Utilities don't have the cash to battle the greenies and anti-nuke big money folks.

2. You're preaching to the choir.

3. So would you risk $1,000,000,000 or more on building a new nuke plant or SMR knowing that the next democrat admin would stop it cold, like Cuomo shuttered Indian Point on a whim?

4. I'm not sure that even if congress passed a law ordering ANWR and all future nuke plants kept open and free from political closure unless a new law is passed closing them, if that would eliminate risk. One other thought is that if the Mag-7 let pols know that if they interfere with their new data-centers or powerplants their opponents would receive unlimited funding.

Utilities don't have the cash to battle the greenies and anti-nuke big money folks.

The government could fix that.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Maybe that is one thing Trump will be looking into correcting.


No, Trump needs to get the ball rolling and Congress needs to act so that even if a Dem gets into office, they would find it difficult and unpopular to try to stop it.

My biggest concern with nuclear power are the spent fuel rods. IMO, we need a reliable way of saving them up and launching them into the Sun rather than just bury them. The Sun just eats that stuff up.

My biggest concern with nuclear power are the spent fuel rods.

Use up the waste in a reactor.

IMO, we need a reliable way of saving them up and launching them into the Sun rather than just bury them.

And risk a launch accident? No thanks.

Used fuel rods still have over 90% of the uranium of the new fuel rods.

 

[toobfreak]

And risk a launch accident? No thanks.

That is why I emphasized a RELIABLE way of launching them into the Sun with minimal risks.

Put another way, do not use anything built by Boeing.

 

[kyzr]

Maybe that is one thing Trump will be looking into correcting.

Trump can start the process, but it will take some time. That would be a good EO, except if the Navy designs were used that would probably be a national security issue. We don't want to publish our Navy's secret SMR design. So maybe Rolls-Royce or some other SMR vendor would submit a design?

Trump needs to get the ball rolling and Congress needs to act so that even if a Dem gets into office, they would find it difficult and unpopular to try to stop it.

We agree there, except the GOP bastards won't even vote to lock-in the DOGE recommendations. I have no faith in those AHs.

My biggest concern with nuclear power are the spent fuel rods. IMO, we need a reliable way of saving them up and launching them into the Sun rather than just bury them. The Sun just eats that stuff up.

Harry Reid stopped Yucca Mt from being a nuclear waste repository. It could be opened.

Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The project has encountered many difficulties and was highly contested by the public, the Western Shoshone peoples, and many politicians. The project also faces strong state and regional opposition. The Government Accountability Office stated that the closure was for political, not technical or safety reasons

 

[Crepitus]

I'm generally a Trump supporter, but this is plain stupid. (if he does it)

Trump would basically be saying that 3 pregnant women can make a baby in 3-months.

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering several executive orders to expedite the construction of nuclear power plants, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing drafts it has r...

www.yahoo.com

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports​

Nuclear power is not something you want to rush. This idea isn't even half-baked.

Finding suitable sites for many more nuke plants is tough, not even counting the NIMBY lawsuits.
Permitting can take 10-years
Construction can take 10-years
Fuel and waste are major issues
Running nuclear powerplants is not easy

Can Trump wave a magic wand? Making that much high quality specialty steel to fabricate reactors and the plants is other worldly.

Possible?

Sure. they already have a huge record of doing stupid shit so this isn't gonna be hard.

Wise?

That's another question entirely.

 

[Dr. Phosphorous]

I'm generally a Trump supporter, but this is plain stupid. (if he does it)

Trump would basically be saying that 3 pregnant women can make a baby in 3-months.

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering several executive orders to expedite the construction of nuclear power plants, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing drafts it has r...

www.yahoo.com

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports​

Nuclear power is not something you want to rush. This idea isn't even half-baked.

Finding suitable sites for many more nuke plants is tough, not even counting the NIMBY lawsuits.
Permitting can take 10-years
Construction can take 10-years
Fuel and waste are major issues
Running nuclear powerplants is not easy

Can Trump wave a magic wand? Making that much high quality specialty steel to fabricate reactors and the plants is other worldly.

Better question, genius -- Is it even legal?

Like all fiscal decisions, Trump can't do this without Congress' approval.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

That is why I emphasized a RELIABLE way of launching them into the Sun with minimal risks.

Put another way, do not use anything built by Boeing.

Wasting billions to throw away perfectly good fuel.
That was a leftist idea.
Don't fall for it.

 

[toobfreak]

Wasting billions to throw away perfectly good fuel.
That was a leftist idea.
Don't fall for it.

Nah, there are viable engineering solutions.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Nah, there are liable engineering solutions.

Solutions to reprocess and reuse the fuel.

 

[krichton]

Well, modular nuclear is a thing. It's a good design.
It does not need to take that long. Small, modular, nuclear, compatible expansions and things.
The tech is here. Probably Trump learned about that by talking to the UK dude.
I already made my money on that when Europe got on it, but there might be another thing. Maybe.

A modular reactor would still take several years to build. For instance, China finished one in 2021, and that one took 9 years to build and this was considered a small modular reactor. In Russia, they built an SMR in 12 years. In the US we planned to build an SMR quite recently but rising costs made it completely untenable and the project was completely scrapped. This entire story is a complete nothing burger. Trump demonstrates to us why he has a 3rd grade level understanding on any subject you put forth in front of him.

 

[kyzr]

Better question, genius -- Is it even legal?
Like all fiscal decisions, Trump can't do this without Congress' approval.

I agree Trump can't toss 10CFR50, which is the law governing nuclear power.
But he could get the ball rolling if he gets the Navy to submit a few of their SMR designs for commercial use.
As long as the Navy doesn't object for security reasons. I assume those designs are highly classified.

But you are correct that it would take congress to put up funding to develop SMRs.
Would it be simpler just to license the proven Rolls-Royce design?
Or would it be better to license more big nuke plants instead of having SMRs all over the place?

 

[22lcidw]

People are forced to put up with many things. When we have disasters, the worse thing is the loss of power. Even with some destruction around us, having power is like a reassurance. We have self-important demigods playing that role and we suffer for it.

 

[Rigby5]

I'm generally a Trump supporter, but this is plain stupid. (if he does it)

Trump would basically be saying that 3 pregnant women can make a baby in 3-months.

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is considering several executive orders to expedite the construction of nuclear power plants, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing drafts it has r...

www.yahoo.com

Trump administration considers orders expediting nuclear plant construction, NYT reports​

Nuclear power is not something you want to rush. This idea isn't even half-baked.

Finding suitable sites for many more nuke plants is tough, not even counting the NIMBY lawsuits.
Permitting can take 10-years
Construction can take 10-years
Fuel and waste are major issues
Running nuclear powerplants is not easy

Can Trump wave a magic wand? Making that much high quality specialty steel to fabricate reactors and the plants is other worldly.

I strongly disagree.
Modern nuclear power plants are multiple small modules, so they are capable of being put anywhere. There no longer are any concerns over things like earthquakes or tornadoes.
The modules are already permitted, so there is no longer a permitting process on the plants.
Construction only takes days because you don't need a containment dome.
Fuel for nuclear plants is less of an issue than oil, global warming, etc.
Nuclear wastes were never an issue. The fuel comes from the ground, and the wastes are less radioactive than the original fuel that you harvested. So the net outcome is to make things cleaner, not worse.
Running arrays of small reactors is easy. Every satellite has them, and they require no human intervention at all.
We simply have no choice.
Fossil fuel is running out.
We could shift to bio fuel, but that would compete with food.

 

[Rigby5]

Okay, so I'm sure you have some examples of small modular fusion plants ready to ship?
Yeah, no, that's not an actual thing. It's a nice idea, but not an actual thing.

Small, modular, fission plants are real, safe, and ready to go.
Fusion may never happen, but is something worth trying at.

 

[Rigby5]

Okay, so I'm sure you have some examples of small modular fusion plants ready to ship?
Yeah, no, that's not an actual thing. It's a nice idea, but not an actual thing.

Yes small modular nuclear power plants built in factories and shipped anywhere, are an actual thing.

{...
SMRs are nuclear reactors designed to be smaller in size and power generation capacity than traditional reactors. Their modular design allows them to be built in a factory and then transported to the site of use, significantly reducing costs and construction times.

Advantages of small nuclear reactors​

This type of reactors offers several advantages that make them an increasingly attractive option in the current energy landscape. These advantages derive from both its specific design and its ability to address common challenges in the energy industry.

Below are some of the main advantages:

1. Small dimensions and modularity: As the name indicates, SMRs are smaller compared to conventional nuclear reactors. This feature allows them to adapt to a variety of locations and environments, including areas where it would not be feasible to build large-scale nuclear reactors. Additionally, its modular design facilitates mass manufacturing and reduces costs associated with construction and logistics.
2. Deployment flexibility : Small reactors can be deployed incrementally to meet energy demands at different scales and contexts. This makes them ideal for both large power grids and remote communities or islands that require a reliable power source but do not have access to large-scale infrastructure.
3. Reduced construction costs and times : Factory manufacturing and transportation of SMRs in prefabricated units help reduce construction costs and times compared to conventional nuclear reactors, which are typically custom projects that can face significant delays. .
4. Increased Safety: SMRs are designed with a focus on safety, with passive systems and inherent features that minimize the risks associated with nuclear operations. These include passive cooling systems and the ability to automatically shut down in an emergency, reducing the need for human intervention.
5. Lower environmental impact : Although nuclear energy is not completely free of environmental impact, SMRs offer the possibility of generating electricity with low carbon emissions, which contributes to the mitigation of climate change. In addition, its smaller physical footprint and the ability to integrate into existing electrical networks reduce the environmental impact and the need for new infrastructure.
6. Improved waste management: Although all nuclear reactors generate radioactive waste, modular nuclear reactors can offer more efficient waste management thanks to their smaller size and fuel requirements. Some designs are also aimed at reducing the amount and toxicity of nuclear waste produced.

...}

Here are some small modular reactors you can buy right now and put anywhere.
{...
X-Energy is a private nuclear reactor and fuel design engineering company based in Rockville, MD. It was founded in 2009 by Iranian-born American businessman Kam Ghaffarian. Ghaffarian is also the founder of several high-profile companies, including Axiom Space, IBX, Intuitive Machines, and Quantum Space. ...

Santa Clara-based Oklo is an advanced nuclear tech company founded in 2013 by two Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates, Jacob DeWitte and Caroline Cochran. The company designs next-generation fission power plants that produce abundant, affordable clean energy. ...

Nuclear innovation company TerraPower was founded in 2008 by Bill Gates and other private sector leaders. The company is now recognized as an international leader in the SMR space, having secured a whopping $80 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2020 to support the development of its groundbreaking Natrium nuclear reactor. In 2021, TerraPower selected Kemmerer, Wyoming, as the preferred site for its advanced nuclear reactor demonstration plant. The Natrium reactor is one of just two competitively-selected advanced reactor demonstration projects (ARDP) supported by the Department of Energy. ...

Westinghouse Electric Company
Leading SMR company Westinghouse Electric propelled to the forefront of the nuclear technology industry with its transportable eVinci™ microreactor. More of a nuclear battery than a traditional nuclear reactor, the high-temperature heat pipe reactor can generate 5 MW of electricity and up to 13 MW of heat from its 15 MW solid thermal core. ...

SMR maker Kairos Power is betting on high-temperature molten salt reactors to provide competitive, reliable, and responsible nuclear energy. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the company touts its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (KP-FHR) as an affordable and long-term alternative to conventional energy sources like natural gas, the country’s primary fuel of choice. ...

SMR developer BWXT Technologies will build the first advanced nuclear microreactor in the United States. The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Strategic Capabilities Office selected the nuclear solutions firm in 2022 to manufacture a full-scale mobile microreactor prototype for testing at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Construction on the Project Pele microreactor kicked off in September 2024, according to an announcement from the DOD’s Office of Nuclear Energy. The reactor is currently being manufactured by BWXT as part of the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) initiative, with the assembly of the final reactor set to begin in February 2025. BWXT expects the final product to be fully assembled and ready for delivery to INL in 2026. ...

Nuscale

This advanced nuclear reactor company–which went public in 2022– is leading several large-scale projects across Central and Eastern Europe. NuScale is particularly active in Poland, where it will build its flagship VOYGR SMR power plant with up to 924 MWe of electricity as early as 2029. Poland, a newcomer in the nuclear technology market, chose Portland, Oregon–based NuScale to develop and construct the country’s first small modular reactor. The historic agreement comes from an ambitious multi-nation decarbonization plan signed in Glasgow last November by 28 new Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA members). The eastern European nation generated about 70% of its electricity from coal in 2020, according to a 2021 report from Forum Energii....

Holtec International is another world-class developer of SMRs. The company boasts two SMR designs: the SMR-160 and the SMR-300. According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the SMR-160 is a pressurized water reactor (PWR) featuring passive safety systems and an electrical capacity of 160 MWe. The company has temporarily suspended its pre-application activities for the SMR-160 to focus on the SMR-300, its latest reactor design. The SMR-300 is a next-generation, passively safe, pressurized light water nuclear power plant with a net electrical output of 300 MWe. The reactor requires no active intervention from operators, controlled equipment, or external power, even in severe natural disasters or man-made threats. ...

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), headquartered in Wilmington, NC, has been a leading advanced reactors and nuclear services provider for over 60 years. Its latest innovation is the BWRX-300, a boiling water reactor with 300 MW of carbon-free power. The BWRX-300 is a compact technology that utilizes natural circulation and passive cooling through isolation condenser systems for supreme safety and simplicity. It can be constructed within 24 to 36 months, making it suitable for retrofitting or replacing existing coal-fired power plants with nuclear technology. ...

General Atomics (GA) is a defense and diversified technologies firm headquartered in San Diego, CA. Besides its numerous defense applications, such as unmanned aircraft systems, radar systems, and other military technologies, GA has been a leader in nuclear energy innovation since its founding in 1955. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), a subdivision of General Atomics, develops pioneering advanced reactors like the GA-EMS’ Energy Multiplier Module (EM2), a cutting-edge, gas-cooled SMR designed to tackle four of the biggest challenges in nuclear energy: cost, safety, waste management, and nonproliferation. ...

While not a company, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been an essential resource for developing SMRs. As one of the 17 national laboratories within the U.S. Department of Energy network, INL has more than 6,100 researchers and support staff dedicated to driving progress and innovation in nuclear research. INL acts as a testing ground for emerging energy technologies, helping to spearhead advancements in the field and serving as an essential intermediary for translating innovative concepts from raw ideas into reality. The lab routinely partners with government agencies and private companies to test, validate, develop, and design trailblazing reactor fuels and technologies. ...
...}
Five of the World’s Leading Small Modular Reactor Companies

So then much like a solar far with many solar panel arrays, you can park all the small modular nuclear reactors you want together, to get whatever output you need.

 

[Rigby5]

Its not a refrigerator. Ever heard of Chernobyl?

They are not available in the US yet. Care to buy a Russian or Chinese plant?

Small modular reactor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

As of 2024, only China and Russia have successfully built operational SMRs. There are more than 80 modular reactor designs under development in 19 countries. Russia has been operating a floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov, in Russia's Far East (Pevek), commercially since 2020.The floating plant is the first of its kind in the world. China's pebble-bed modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor HTR-PM was connected to the grid in 2021

Chernobyl, was a carbon graphite based moderator, which is simple and cheap, but very flammable and not a good idea.

 

[kyzr]

Modern nuclear power plants are multiple small modules, so they are capable of being put anywhere. There no longer are any concerns over things like earthquakes or tornadoes.

Wrong. Read 10 CFR50

The modules are already permitted, so there is no longer a permitting process on the plants.

Wrong. Commercial operation requires permitting by the NRC.

Construction only takes days because you don't need a containment dome.

Wrong.

Fuel for nuclear plants is less of an issue than oil, global warming, etc.

Wrong.

Nuclear wastes were never an issue. The fuel comes from the ground, and the wastes are less radioactive than the original fuel that you harvested. So the net outcome is to make things cleaner, not worse.

Moronically wrong.

Running arrays of small reactors is easy. Every satellite has them, and they require no human intervention at all.
We simply have no choice. Fossil fuel is running out. We could shift to bio fuel, but that would compete with food.

The EU is looking at SMRs, but they are still being developed. Do some research before posting nonsense.
Another problem is that many major US nuke plants are aging and need to be replaced, these are big 2,000 Mw plants, not tiny SMRs.

......theoretical SMR, EU

...Perry Nuclear Powerplant, Cleveland, OH

 

[Leo123]

They (government linked power companies0 don't want you to have a small, safe nuclear power generator on your property. Just think of all the revenue they would lose. Therefore, small, manageable nuclear power generation isn't on the horizon.