U.S. Nuclear Energy Law and Regulation

• Semester: Fall 2026
• Course ID: 196W
• Credit Hours: 1
• Unique: 31699

Registration Status: Waitlisted

Description

Taught by Martin O'Neill. This course will have required readings prior to the first in-class meeting. The only days this course will meet in person are October 9-10 and November 13-14.

Renewed interest in nuclear energy is being driven by the convergence of rapidly rising electricity demand, the need for firm and reliable carbon-free generation, growing concern over energy security and domestic fuel resilience, and the search for scalable power sources to support AI, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification. This short course provides a practical introduction to the legal and regulatory framework governing civilian nuclear energy in the United States. It focuses on the statutory, regulatory, and policy issues most central to understanding how nuclear projects are licensed, regulated, and advanced in the United States today. The course seeks to give students a working understanding of the Atomic Energy Act and related statutes, the structure and processes of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, reactor licensing pathways, environmental reviews, adjudicatory practice, spent fuel management, financial protection and liability under the Price Anderson Act, and rapidly evolving federal and state policies affecting both the current fleet and advanced reactor deployments. Particular emphasis will be placed on the legal issues that arise in real-world project development and regulation, including licensing strategy, hearing rights, judicial review, regulatory modernization, waste disposition, and the emerging role of Texas in advanced nuclear deployment.