U.S. Agencies Sign Deal to Study Offshore Nuclear Power

The Trump administration has taken a significant step toward the potential deployment of nuclear power plants in federal waters, announcing a new interagency agreement to evaluate the technology as part of a broader push to expand domestic atomic energy. The Marine Minerals Administration, part of the Department of the Interior, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to coordinate oversight and create a regulatory framework for future offshore nuclear projects.

The agreement focuses on the 3.2 billion acres of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Officials emphasized that no commercial offshore nuclear power plants are currently approved or planned, but the pact is designed to assess how such technology could be responsibly implemented. Matt Giacona, the MMA's acting director, stated that submerged reactor systems have been safely used in naval applications for decades, demonstrating potential as a reliable energy source in marine environments and a future bolster for national energy security.

Jeremy Bowen, director of the NRC's Office of Advanced Reactors, said the agreement establishes a clear framework for agency...