FIA Supports Confirmation of Christopher Hanson for US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

On April 18, the FIA sent a letter to Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to support the confirmation of US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Christopher Hanson.

Chairman Hanson’s openness to finding the appropriate regulatory approach to fusion will provide our industry with the regulatory certainty we need at an important time when many fusion companies are in the process of demonstrating their proof of concept machines and siting their first commercial fusion power plants. As such, we support his confirmation by the US Senate to a second term on the Commission.

FIA letter to Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

The Chairman, along with his fellow Commissioners, led the NRC to make the important bipartisan decision in April 2023 to regulate fusion energy separate from nuclear fission, ensuring the continuation of fusion industry acceleration in the United States. Over the past three years, the Commission has engaged with the fusion community and analyzed how to best regulate and license commercial fusion facilities. The FIA commends the NRC Commissioners and staff on their engagement throughout the process – it succeeded in building a better understanding in the NRC and public of fusion technology, and culminated in the key regulatory decision.

The FIA supports the confirmation of Chairman Hanson to serve a second term on the Commission. You can read the full letter below.