Uncle Sam dangles nuclear campuses for states while watering down safety rules

The Department of Energy (DOE) is inviting US states to host "Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses" to revitalize atomic power amid reports the agency has weakened safety rules governing the way nuclear sites operate.

The DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Wednesday, seeking responses from states that may be interested in hosting the campuses, which will operate a "full‑cycle nuclear ecosystem."

In practice, this means these sites will be expected to provide facilities for atomic waste reprocessing and disposal, in addition to fuel fabrication and enrichment. They may also serve as locations for nuclear reactors and co‑located datacenters powered by them.

News site Politico reported last week about talk of the Trump administration planning to steer "billions, if not hundreds of billions" in funding toward developing a domestic nuclear fuel cycle program to support rapid expansion of reactor construction. The DOE denied this at the time, according ...