Eric Niiler

There's about 90,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, and that's being stored at sites in 39 states. Now, most of it is from commercial nuclear reactors, but it also includes more than three dozen university and government facilities. according to a report by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

There's about 90,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, and that's being stored at sites in 39 states. Now, most of it is from commercial nuclear reactors, but it also includes more than three dozen university and government facilities. according to a report by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Every year, just with current production from nuclear facilities and research labs, it's about 2,000 metric tons. Now, of course, that number is going to increase just because we've seen a greater demand for nuclear energy, for AI data centers, for just electricity demand throughout the economy.

Every year, just with current production from nuclear facilities and research labs, it's about 2,000 metric tons. Now, of course, that number is going to increase just because we've seen a greater demand for nuclear energy, for AI data centers, for just electricity demand throughout the economy.

Basically, under federal law passed in the 1980s, the Department of Energy was supposed to pick up all the nuclear waste and find a location for it starting in 1998. It was a federal law. That didn't happen.

Basically, under federal law passed in the 1980s, the Department of Energy was supposed to pick up all the nuclear waste and find a location for it starting in 1998. It was a federal law. That didn't happen.

And since then, basically the commercial nuclear reactor fleet, these utilities that run these plants, they've been suing the federal government and getting court-ordered payments of anywhere from $600 million to $800 million a year. to pay for basically not picking up the waste.

And since then, basically the commercial nuclear reactor fleet, these utilities that run these plants, they've been suing the federal government and getting court-ordered payments of anywhere from $600 million to $800 million a year. to pay for basically not picking up the waste.

That waste disposal cost is projected to reach up to $44.5 billion, according to a 2024 audit by the Department of Energy's Office of Inspector General.

That waste disposal cost is projected to reach up to $44.5 billion, according to a 2024 audit by the Department of Energy's Office of Inspector General.

Well, for a while it was sort of not in my backyard syndrome. There was a permanent repository that was selected in Nevada. State officials said, no, this is not going to happen. Since then, there's just been sort of a lack of momentum, a lack of progress. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given licenses to two interim storage facilities.

Well, for a while it was sort of not in my backyard syndrome. There was a permanent repository that was selected in Nevada. State officials said, no, this is not going to happen. Since then, there's just been sort of a lack of momentum, a lack of progress. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given licenses to two interim storage facilities.

These places, one in New Mexico, one in Texas, are under litigation themselves.

These places, one in New Mexico, one in Texas, are under litigation themselves.