Nuclear Energy Law & Policy
LAW 748 | 2-3 Hours
This course offers a comprehensive examination of the law and policy related to civilian nuclear energy in the United States and globally. Students will explore the international treaties and institutions that shape nuclear energy governance, including the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Also including international legal regulation of nuclear facility safety, nuclear materials security, and nuclear incident liability. The course will also cover U.S. domestic law on nuclear energy, focusing on the statutory basis for this regulation in the 1954 Atomic Energy Act, and the implementing regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which licensing and verifies compliance of the development, construction, and operation of nuclear energy facilities. Students will examine the regulation of electricity markets at the federal and state level as they impact nuclear energy deployment and explore the evolving legal landscape surrounding advanced reactor technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors (MRs). Throughout the course, students will assess the policy debates surrounding the role of nuclear power in addressing climate change, energy security, and economic development, analyzing current efforts to accelerate the rollout of nuclear power both in the U.S. and globally. Case studies of current reactor projects and regulatory challenges will ground discussions in practical realities, offering students insight into the intersection of law, technology, and policy in the dynamic and critically important field of nuclear energy.