This webpage describes the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), a federal program responsible for advancing nuclear energy technology in the United States. It outlines the office’s mission, priorities, and major program areas, including advanced reactors, nuclear fuel development, and spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management.
This page is only informational, not a law, regulation, or permit. However, it explains how a key federal office operates under authority granted by Congress, primarily through statutes like the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.
- The office is responsible for developing and funding nuclear technologies, including systems for handling and disposing of nuclear waste.
- It helps implement federal policy by supporting research, infrastructure, and partnerships with states, industry, and national laboratories.
- Unlike the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), it does not license or approve facilities; instead, it helps design and support the systems that may later be licensed.
- Its work can shape future regulations, siting decisions, and federal programs, especially around interim storage and disposal.
