"WASHINGTON - The U.S. nuclear energy regulator on Tuesday issued a license to Holtec International to build and operate a temporary facility to store nuclear waste from power plants, despite a New Mexico state law that could present a hurdle to the project.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said the license authorizes private company Holtec to store 500 canisters holding nearly 8,700 metric tonnes of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants for 40 years.

Holtec plans to eventually store up to 10,000 canisters in an additional 19 phases.

"Each expansion phase would require a license amendment with additional NRC safety and environmental reviews," the agency said in a release.

The Biden administration believes that maintaining the current fleet of U.S. nuclear reactors and expanding the industry with new technologies is critical in the fight to curb climate change."

Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters May 9, 2023. [2]