Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act of 2026

This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow the use of standard commercial steel and concrete in non-safety parts of nuclear power plants within 90 days of enactment. The primary goal is to let plant operators use readily available building materials instead of specialized nuclear-grade supplies, which could lower costs and speed up construction. However, the agency retains the authority to reject this approach if it determines that using standard materials would compromise public safety or national security. Ultimately, the law shifts the default material requirements for non-critical plant structures while keeping the final safety decision with the regulator.