> Not really, but each new reactor is treated like a completely new design which makes regulations incredibly expensive. There are already-approved designs tha

> Not really, but each new reactor is treated like a completely new design which makes regulations incredibly expensive. There are already-approved designs that are pre-approved can can be constructed without review: * https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/large-lwr/design-cert.html https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/large-lwr/design-c... AIUI, one can get approval from the NRC (under Part 52?) by building a plant as-drawn with a pre-approved design: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Construction_and_Operating_License https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Construction_and_Oper... * https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part052/full-text.html https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part052/f... If you deviate from the plan then you have to get approval for that deviation. Apparently this was part of the problem with Vogtle (Unit 3): they had a design and got it approved, but because the hands-on knowledge of building had atrophied, they found complications in construction in the drawings, and wanted to make change to simplify things. These changes then had to be approved, which add to delays. There is another regulatory process where you get approval in phases, and this would have been better for Vogtle. The Decouple podcast has a four-part series on Vogtle that goes into a lot of detail about Vogtle: * https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyouH0mkPJXHR0hKW_iLkIBCsu5D5xO2b https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyouH0mkPJXHR0hKW_iLk... One can get an initial site license without actually picking a particular design, so the process can start with decisions are being made: * https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2023/09-2023071715-03NuclearPowerPlantLicensingProcess.pdf https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2023/09-2023071715-03Nuc...