Atomic Insights

Atomic Show #341 – Ho Nieh, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

In this episode, NRC Chair Ho Nieh discusses his personal journey into nuclear—from a family legacy of welders to a Navy nuclear program and a career at the NRC—while outlining the agency’s shift toward an "enabling" regulatory approach. He emphasizes the importance of repurposing existing plant sites for new reactors, modernizing licensing frameworks (like the risk‑informed, technology‑neutral Part 53 rulemaking), and attracting talent by highlighting the agency’s pivotal role in America’s nuclear expansion. Nieh also stresses that safety remains paramount, but the NRC now actively works to remove outdated barriers so new advanced reactors can be deployed at scale, on budget, and with lower costs. The conversation underscores the generational nature of nuclear work and the broader goal of positioning the U.S. as a global leader in safe nuclear energy.