The model for building new reactors is changing. One reactor entered commercial service in the United States last year under a traditional licensing system, and four are approaching completion using a new, alternative regulatory approach. Now a startup is seeking generic approval for a design that would be built in a factory. Here is how it works:
Step One: Deciding to Build
A company that supplies electricity to consumers decides to build. In regulated areas in the United States, an investor-owned utility needs the permission of a public service commission (PSC).
