Trump’s Unsung Economic Booster: Deregulation

Nuclear power exemplifies how revamping dated and onerous rules could kick-start investment and innovation

By Greg Ip. Excerpts:

"What level of radiation may a U.S. nuclear power plant emit? “As low as reasonably achievable,” the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has long declared."

"There is little consensus that radiation at extremely low levels is harmful."

"Yet the persistence of the standard is one reason why nuclear power plants cost so much and take so long to build."

"Since then [1978], just a handful have been approved."

"NRC’s radiation standards, which are often lower than natural background levels"

"Whether a rule’s costs are worth those benefits is often a judgment call."

"cost-benefit analysis has only an indirect link to actual economic output."

"“anything that goes into a reactor that’s safety relevant has to be nuclear-certified with incredibly strict quality control,” said Ted Nordhaus, founder of the Breakthrough Institute, who has written extensively on nuclear power. This slows deployment and innovation."