Narratives at the Core: Nuclear Energy Policy, Innovation, and Risk in the U.S. Transition Era

Amid renewed climate commitments and energy security concerns, nuclear energy has re-emerged as a central point of policy debate in the United States. The commissioning of Vogtle Unit 3 in 2023, the first new reactor in over 3 decades, and recent legislation such as the ADVANCE Act of 2024 and the Inflation Reduction Act signal what some have called a nuclear renaissance. However, deep public skepticism, environmental justice concerns, and institutional memory of past failures challenge this momentum. This article uses the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) to analyze two dominant storylines shaping the United States’ nuclear policy: one framing nuclear energy as an innovative climate solution and the other as a risk-laden, inequitable legacy. These competing narratives shape public opinion, policymaking, and legitimacy, particularly among historically marginalized communities. This article analyzes recent policy shifts, narrative structures, and institutional dynamics and argues that understanding and integrating competing narratives is essential for inclusive, credible, and forward-looking governance. The article offers theoretical insights and practical implications for public administrators navigating one of today’s most contested terrains in energy policy.