The US Department of Energy should put in place a programme to grant early site permits for new nuclear reactors as part of a drive towards the “coal-to-nuclear” transition, a thinktank said in a report.

The pro-nuclear Breakthrough Institute, based in California, said legacy regulatory processes create friction rather than incentive for owners of coal-fired plants considering nuclear projects on their sites.

A key challenge is the regulatory process to acquire early site permits (ESPs).

The Breakthrough Institute said the current process for getting an ESP is lengthy and costly, which may discourage developers due to uncertainties and prolonged timelines.