New Power Generation

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued the country's first construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor, developed by GE Vernova Hitachi for the Tennessee Valley Authority at its Clinch River site. Commenters say the decision marks a milestone for next-generation nuclear power in the United States, with debate over whether small modular reactors can finally deliver cheaper, faster nuclear builds.

California has passed a new law legalizing plug-in solar panels, allowing renters and apartment dwellers without their own roofs to generate solar power without needing permits or permission. The panels, which simply plug into a standard outlet, are already popular in other US states and across Europe. Supporters see it as a major step toward making clean energy accessible to people who have historically been locked out of rooftop solar.