For years, nuclear energy in the United States advanced in careful, incremental steps. Steady, but rarely fast. Projects took time, regulations were complex and innovation lagged behind ambition.
That pace is changing.
Projects once stalled in development are now safely moving into licensing and construction. New reactor companies are emerging, energy production is ramping up and long-discussed technologies are closer to reality.
What was once potential is now action.
“It’s a very, very busy time in nuclear,” says Dan Sowers, a Certified Health Physicist (CHP) and a global radiation protection senior manager at Westinghouse Electric Company. “It’s also a very, very good time to be in nuclear.”
Behind that momentum, he says, is a convergence of factors including policy shifts, industry readiness and surging energy demand. These forces are aligning at once. The result is something the field hasn’t seen in decades: a true nuclear renaissance unfolding in real time.
But why now? What’s driving this sudden surge?
And what does it mean for the future of nuclear energy and the CHPs shaping it?
Sowers offers some insights.
From Policy to Action
The sudden acceleration in U.S. nuclear energy didn’t happen in a vacuum.
It’s the result of a deliberate shift, years in the making, to modernize how nuclear projects move from concept to reality.
Washington has been clearing the runway. Lawmakers and regulators have worked to remove bottlenecks, encourage innovation and give agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) the tools to move faster. Recent executive orders pushed even further, calling for streamlined reactor testing and shorter development timelines.
The message is clear: build faster.
The DOE has backed that urgency with a concrete goal: bring at least three advanced reactors to criticality within the next few years.
And the policy shift isn’t just theoretical.
It’s already showing up on the ground.
Programs like the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program are helping developers move from plans to projects at a much faster pace. For people inside the industry, the change has been immediate.
“It’s been like a flurry of work,” Sowers says.
But policy alone doesn’t explain the speed.
What makes this moment different is that the industry was ready. For years, companies had been developing reactor designs, refining business models and preparing for a more favorable regulatory environment. When it arrived, they didn’t hesitate.
“They were poised to strike,” Sowers says. “And they are taking huge advantage of these orders.”
An Industry Scaling Up
Now, the response is spreading across the sector.
Advanced reactor companies, including those building small modular reactors, are ramping up. Fresh players are entering the field, while established firms are accelerating investments and timelines.
“You’ve got probably half a dozen advanced reactor companies coming out of the woodwork,” Sowers says.
There are also signs that progress is becoming tangible. TerraPower’s recent approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to begin commercial construction—the first in over a decade—marks a turning point.
Behind the scenes, the broader ecosystem is moving too. Mining, fuel production and supply chains are scaling up to support both new reactors and the existing fleet.
“We are seeing a tremendous uptick in uranium mining and fuel,” Sowers says.
The effort extends beyond reactor construction to rebuilding the full industrial base, including fuel, infrastructure, operations and long-term support. At the same time, the existing fleet continues to supply a critical share of U.S. electricity.
Why This Moment Feels Different
The nuclear industry has seen periods of renewed interest before.
This moment stands apart.
Technology has advanced. Designs are more flexible and scalable. Demand for reliable, low-carbon energy has increased significantly.
From powering large-scale data centers to supporting industrial growth, the need for consistent, clean electricity continues to rise.
Another key element: There is growing recognition that nuclear energy can meet that demand without adding carbon emissions, making it an increasingly important part of the broader energy strategy.
Ambition is expanding as well. Industry and policy roadmaps point toward significant growth in nuclear capacity in the coming decades, with new builds, restarts and upgrades all contributing to future supply.
Demand signals are also coming from beyond traditional energy sectors. Large technology companies, for example, are exploring nuclear power to support the increasing energy needs of data centers to support artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Together, these forces are creating a sense of urgency and opportunity that is difficult to ignore.
Growing Demand for CHPs
As projects move forward, one challenge is becoming increasingly clear: the industry needs experienced professionals.
Building and operating nuclear systems requires far more than engineering alone. It demands expertise across licensing, environmental analysis, radiation protection and operations. Sowers underscores the complexity.
“They need an engineering team, but they also need a licensing team, an environmental assessment, a radiation protection assessment,” he says. “And how are we actually going to sit behind a control panel and push buttons and operate this thing?”
Central to that question are CHPs, professionals trained to evaluate radiation hazards, protect workers and the public, and ensure nuclear operations meet rigorous safety standards.
Companies are increasingly seeking individuals who can bridge multiple disciplines, especially as new organizations build programs from the ground up.
“They’re looking for a single person who has done a whole bunch of stuff to come in and do a whole bunch of new stuff,” Sowers says. “For this company that’s never particularly been done before.”
CHPs are uniquely positioned to fill that role. Their credentialing reflects competency across the full spectrum of radiation protection, from designing safety programs and conducting dose assessments to navigating regulatory requirements and responding to operational challenges. For a startup building its safety infrastructure for the first time, that breadth is invaluable.
Looking Ahead
The nuclear renaissance is no longer a concept. It is happening now.
Momentum is building, projects are advancing and the industry is entering a period of transformation that will shape the future of American energy. Some previously retired reactors are even being reconsidered or restarted to meet increasing demand. This, Sowers says, signals a broader shift in how nuclear energy fits into the nation’s energy mix.
But he says progress on this scale does not happen on its own.
It depends on the people guiding it, professionals who design, evaluate, operate and ensure that every step forward is taken safely and responsibly. Among them, CHPs will play an outsized role in determining whether this new era of nuclear energy earns and keeps the public’s trust.
“As the field continues to grow, one question becomes increasingly important: Who will ensure this new era of nuclear energy remains safe, effective and trusted?” Sowers says.
The answer, he adds, will be CHPs.
Explore current CHP opportunities and learn more by visiting the AAHP job board and career center.