A U.S. nuclear regulatory agency proposed sweeping reforms July 1 to modernize nuclear reactor licensing and safety practices, shifting away from a global radiation measurement standard after 50 years. The regulatory changes are expected to make it faster and easier to build more nuclear reactors to meet increased energy demands. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent federal agency that oversees licensing and regulation of nuclear energy and radioactive materials, expects the changes will streamline regulations without lowering safety standards. “NRC’s regulations have not kept pace with new technologies and our energy needs,” Chairman Ho Nieh said in a July 1 statement. “This proposed rule strips out rigid frameworks and unnecessary conservatism to accelerate the safe deployment of new reactors and expand existing capacity across America.”...