Time to Strategize for Nuclear Waste Management

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Even the long-established US program is seeing growth: Interest in and approval for nuclear energy have spiked, and Big Tech is investing significantly to meet rising electricity demand. Companies are proposing (and beginning to receive regulatory approval for) next-generation reactors, which utilize different coolants, fuels, and designs. Given all this new interest, and the impending arrival of new types of nuclear waste, it’s crucial for nuclear companies, along with their influential customers, to advocate for progress on building geological storage facilities. As the wealthiest nation globally and a hub for next-generation reactor development, the US should aspire to take the lead rather than falling behind.

Investing even a small fraction of the recent surge in funding and attention into waste management could yield significant progress. Some experts are suggesting the formation of a new organization in the US to oversee nuclear waste management, moving beyond the current framework provided by the Department of Energy. This organization would reflect successful models from countries like Finland, Canada, and France.

The process of planning, building, and commissioning a permanent solution for nuclear waste is lengthy. Finland began its planning in the 1980s and selected its site in the early 2000s, and is now nearly ready to accept waste. For countries lacking a permanent storage solution, the most opportune time to start was decades ago. However, the next best time is now.

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