The New Mexico Department of Justice this week led a multistate coalition in submitting a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) opposing a new set of regulations set forth by the Trump administration that would provide a fast track for licensing and deploying commercially unproven nuclear microreactor technology. The coalition argues that while these microreactors are intended to help migrate toward non-fossil fuel energy resources, they are largely untested and experimental, and the NRC has a responsibility to ensure public and environmental safety before they are allowed to be deployed.    

“Nuclear energy has potential to make real, meaningful changes to the energy structure in our country, but only if it’s done right. The NRC’s mandate is to protect the public – not to rubber-stamp an administration’s rush to deploy unproven technology at the expense of public safety and our environment.” – AG Torrez