Ho K. Nieh, Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), is leading significant regulatory changes aimed at revitalizing the nuclear energy sector in the United States. Located in Rockville, Maryland, Nieh reflects on a previous nuclear energy revival that did not materialize due to factors such as fracking, the financial crisis, and the Fukushima disaster in 2011. He is now implementing reforms to prevent a repeat of that failure, following executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump in May 2025, which aimed to increase domestic nuclear energy capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
Nieh's background includes a career spanning nearly 30 years in the nuclear energy field, beginning as a project engineer at the NRC in the 1990s. His recent initiatives include streamlining the licensing process for new reactors and addressing staffing challenges at the NRC, which has seen a significant reduction in personnel. Despite these challenges, the NRC has managed to issue new licensing frameworks and permits ahead of schedule.
Nieh emphasizes the importance of nuclear energy for both energy supply and national security, particularly in light of global competition. He believes that the current conditions are favorable for the U.S. to lead in nuclear energy development, driven by a generational shift in public perception and increasing concerns about climate change. He aims to ensure that the current opportunity for nuclear energy is not missed, contrasting it with the past failure to realize a nuclear renaissance.