Dr. Adam Stein
@astein.bsky.social
Energy, Risk, Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Research, Father.
Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute
Alum. Carnegie Mellon EPP
Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute
Alum. Carnegie Mellon EPP
⛏️Coordinate uranium supply chain efforts with allies (maintain and strengthen Russian uranium bans, cooperate on uranium exploration and enrichment, minimize trade barriers between allies)
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
⛏️Coordinate uranium supply chain efforts with allies (maintain and strengthen Russian uranium bans, cooperate on uranium exploration and enrichment, minimize trade barriers between allies)
How do we get enough US enrichment?
📈Send firm market signals + prioritize commercial-scale enrichment (HALEU bank, federal power procurement from new nuclear, funnel grants to large-scale projects)
📈Send firm market signals + prioritize commercial-scale enrichment (HALEU bank, federal power procurement from new nuclear, funnel grants to large-scale projects)
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
How do we get enough US enrichment?
📈Send firm market signals + prioritize commercial-scale enrichment (HALEU bank, federal power procurement from new nuclear, funnel grants to large-scale projects)
📈Send firm market signals + prioritize commercial-scale enrichment (HALEU bank, federal power procurement from new nuclear, funnel grants to large-scale projects)
The global supply chain is already constrained, and will become increasingly more constrained with expected growth. The U.S. cannot simply turn to the global market for a solution.
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The global supply chain is already constrained, and will become increasingly more constrained with expected growth. The U.S. cannot simply turn to the global market for a solution.
The higher enrichment level of HALEU fuel needed for advanced reactors correspondingly increases future enrichment needs for US scenarios that consider a higher share of advanced nuclear deployment.
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The higher enrichment level of HALEU fuel needed for advanced reactors correspondingly increases future enrichment needs for US scenarios that consider a higher share of advanced nuclear deployment.
Pilot-scale demonstrations make sense for new technology. But a serious US nuclear buildout demands real commercial-scale capacity. 250 to 490 GW of nuclear by 2050 needs 31 to 97 million separative work units (SWU) annually. Report link: thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Pilot-scale demonstrations make sense for new technology. But a serious US nuclear buildout demands real commercial-scale capacity. 250 to 490 GW of nuclear by 2050 needs 31 to 97 million separative work units (SWU) annually. Report link: thebreakthrough.org/issues/energ...
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.
This new report explores the potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.🧵
This new report explores the potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.🧵
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
If the US really wants to expand nuclear to 400GW nationwide by 2050, the US must secure enrichment ~5x-10x of current domestic capacity.
This new report explores the potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.🧵
This new report explores the potential future US + global nuclear fuel supply chain needs, from uranium enrichment to mining.🧵
The NRC issued a license today to DISA Technologies to use its system to remediate abandoned uranium mines. This is a very positive step toward addressing mines that were improperly handled decades ago, mostly for weapons production.
September 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
The NRC issued a license today to DISA Technologies to use its system to remediate abandoned uranium mines. This is a very positive step toward addressing mines that were improperly handled decades ago, mostly for weapons production.
I just received my copy
September 4, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I just received my copy
I was honored to be part of the planning committee for the recent @nationalacademies.org workshop Pathways for New Nuclear Deployment. There are new opportunities for building next-generation reactors to produce reliable, clean energy. However, significant, but solvable, barriers remain.
August 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I was honored to be part of the planning committee for the recent @nationalacademies.org workshop Pathways for New Nuclear Deployment. There are new opportunities for building next-generation reactors to produce reliable, clean energy. However, significant, but solvable, barriers remain.
How do you make pie charts worse? By making them hexagons instead! Sorry EPRI, great report, but this is a chart crime.
August 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
How do you make pie charts worse? By making them hexagons instead! Sorry EPRI, great report, but this is a chart crime.
It works by providing an interest rate reduction on an LPO loan as milestones are achieved on time. Projects that qualify for ACTION will automatically qualify for support from LPO.
July 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It works by providing an interest rate reduction on an LPO loan as milestones are achieved on time. Projects that qualify for ACTION will automatically qualify for support from LPO.
🏗️Trilled to finally introduce ACTION, to accelerate nuclear energy deployment. It is a milestone-based program to address the root causes of project risk for advanced nuclear energy projects. 🔌💡
July 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
🏗️Trilled to finally introduce ACTION, to accelerate nuclear energy deployment. It is a milestone-based program to address the root causes of project risk for advanced nuclear energy projects. 🔌💡
If NRC radiation protection regulations were made today instead of decades ago, the standards would be very different. It would be aligned with other hazards in a tiered approach, based on direction from Congress for acceptable risk. We provide an option to create that framework.
July 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
If NRC radiation protection regulations were made today instead of decades ago, the standards would be very different. It would be aligned with other hazards in a tiered approach, based on direction from Congress for acceptable risk. We provide an option to create that framework.
🚨New paper out on reconsidering the radiation protection model at the NRC. The paper discusses what science indicates, what it cannot demonstrate, and how policy is separate but informed by science. We recommend a pragmatic, tiered approach that aligns with other hazards. 🔌💡
July 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🚨New paper out on reconsidering the radiation protection model at the NRC. The paper discusses what science indicates, what it cannot demonstrate, and how policy is separate but informed by science. We recommend a pragmatic, tiered approach that aligns with other hazards. 🔌💡
The projected date to finish the Construction Permit for the first TerraPower reactor is now the end of 2025, 8 months early. This demonstrates both the slack in the existing NRC process, and the potential to improve efficiency while not "cutting corners" on the technical review
July 2, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The projected date to finish the Construction Permit for the first TerraPower reactor is now the end of 2025, 8 months early. This demonstrates both the slack in the existing NRC process, and the potential to improve efficiency while not "cutting corners" on the technical review
This was the first test of the NRC following its updated mission statement, and it went in the opposite direction. It is unfortunate that the NRC was so far off the mark that such in-depth comments were necessary.
June 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
This was the first test of the NRC following its updated mission statement, and it went in the opposite direction. It is unfortunate that the NRC was so far off the mark that such in-depth comments were necessary.
We provided substantive comments that identified the specific issues in the proposed rule, legal context, and provided solutions. Many of those issues were addressed in the final rule.
June 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
We provided substantive comments that identified the specific issues in the proposed rule, legal context, and provided solutions. Many of those issues were addressed in the final rule.
Major changes were made to the NRC FY 2025 fee recovery rule to implement reduced fees for advanced reactors, based on our substantive comments and several others.
June 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Major changes were made to the NRC FY 2025 fee recovery rule to implement reduced fees for advanced reactors, based on our substantive comments and several others.
The NRC prevailed on the Interim Storage of spent fuel. The Supreme Court found that Texas and Fasken Land and Minerals did not meet the standard of an aggrieved party and overturned the decision of the 5th Circuit court.
June 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The NRC prevailed on the Interim Storage of spent fuel. The Supreme Court found that Texas and Fasken Land and Minerals did not meet the standard of an aggrieved party and overturned the decision of the 5th Circuit court.
Update since last night, David Wright was renominated. It's unlikely that the Senate could process his nomination before his term ends, which will lead to a gap. Typically, commissioners will wait on votes if a colleague is expected to return, slowing down the commission.
June 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Update since last night, David Wright was renominated. It's unlikely that the Senate could process his nomination before his term ends, which will lead to a gap. Typically, commissioners will wait on votes if a colleague is expected to return, slowing down the commission.
The NRC accepted X-Energy's application for a construction permit for the first facility at Dow's Long Mott site. 18 months, 28,500 staff hours totalling $9.2M at $323/hr, and $1.3M in outside support. The review uses an environmental assessment instead of an EIS. www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2515/...
June 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The NRC accepted X-Energy's application for a construction permit for the first facility at Dow's Long Mott site. 18 months, 28,500 staff hours totalling $9.2M at $323/hr, and $1.3M in outside support. The review uses an environmental assessment instead of an EIS. www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2515/...
Several approaches can be used now to appropriately manage risk.
1) Flexible risk thresholds, already in law, that balance benefits to society
2) Tiered dose limits in regulation that are evidence-based
3) Recognize that there are risks imposed by alternatives
1) Flexible risk thresholds, already in law, that balance benefits to society
2) Tiered dose limits in regulation that are evidence-based
3) Recognize that there are risks imposed by alternatives
June 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Several approaches can be used now to appropriately manage risk.
1) Flexible risk thresholds, already in law, that balance benefits to society
2) Tiered dose limits in regulation that are evidence-based
3) Recognize that there are risks imposed by alternatives
1) Flexible risk thresholds, already in law, that balance benefits to society
2) Tiered dose limits in regulation that are evidence-based
3) Recognize that there are risks imposed by alternatives
Risk is managed on a continuum. Science is at the base, policy provides "high-level" directives, safety regulators are in the middle, providing risk assessment and management. That is the NRC's role and limitation.
June 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Risk is managed on a continuum. Science is at the base, policy provides "high-level" directives, safety regulators are in the middle, providing risk assessment and management. That is the NRC's role and limitation.
We start from the beginning... What is LNT?
June 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
We start from the beginning... What is LNT?
LNT and ALARA, two polarizing terms in nuclear energy. The NRC was tasked with reconsidering both the LNT radiation model and ALARA requirement by a recent executive order. But, many misunderstand what LNT and ALARA are, and what pragmatic evidence-based solutions are available 🔌💡
June 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
LNT and ALARA, two polarizing terms in nuclear energy. The NRC was tasked with reconsidering both the LNT radiation model and ALARA requirement by a recent executive order. But, many misunderstand what LNT and ALARA are, and what pragmatic evidence-based solutions are available 🔌💡