Story perspectives

U.S. Nuclear Waste Crisis: No Repositories, Growing Demand

2/7/2026

27 6

Summary

Story summary

Nuclear waste storage in the United States is a growing crisis.
U.S. President Donald Trump aims to expand nuclear energy, relying on permanent geological repositories for spent fuel.
The United States has about 100,000 tonnes of radioactive waste and no operational repository.
Utah and Tennessee have shown interest in hosting facilities, while Finland is nearing completion of the world's first permanent repository, and Sweden and Canada are developing sites.

1 of 1

Story summary

Nuclear waste storage in the United States is a growing crisis.
U.S. President Donald Trump aims to expand nuclear energy, relying on permanent geological repositories for spent fuel.
The United States has about 100,000 tonnes of radioactive waste and no operational repository.
Utah and Tennessee have shown interest in hosting facilities, while Finland is nearing completion of the world's first permanent repository, and Sweden and Canada are developing sites.