Part 10/17:
One of the most significant hurdles facing nuclear innovation stems from within the industry itself. Decades of rent-seeking behaviors, regulatory capture, and bureaucratic inertia have created obstacles that slow innovation and perpetuate costly, outdated practices. These entrenched interests often resist new models that threaten existing profit structures.
To unlock nuclear's full potential, Kugelmass advocates working closely with regulators to establish performance-based standards. Such regulatory reforms could dramatically reduce compliance costs and facilitate faster licensing of new reactor designs. Recognizing that many older regulations are based on outdated assumptions, modern, safety-focused standards are essential for progress.