Can I legally build my own nuclear reactor?

NO! Under US federal law all nuclear reactors are subject to regulation by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the agency with the sole responsibility of ensuring the safe and orderly operation of all nuclear facilities in the USA.

Is it cheap to build a nuclear reactor?

Nuclear power plants are expensive to build but relatively cheap to run. In many places, nuclear energy is competitive with fossil fuels as a means of electricity generation. Waste disposal and decommissioning costs are usually fully included in the operating costs.

Is it legal to build a thorium reactor?

Thorium is merely the breeding material – you cannot create a reactor using thorium alone. Possession of Thorium is regulated in the US as a “source material.” Here’s from 10CFR part 40.

Is it illegal to build a nuclear bomb?

A nuke would be a destructive device under the NFA so you’d need to get permission from the ATF. You’d need a license just for the fissile material alone (never mind building it into a weapon), one that you won’t receive because you aren’t a government-sanctioned laboratory.

How much does a small nuclear reactor cost?

$750 million: An average cost for a small nuclear reactor.

How many homes can a nuclear power plant power?

A single nuclear power reactor generates enough electricity on average to power over 760,000 homes without emitting any greenhouse gases—that’s more than enough to power a city the size of Philadelphia.

Is it illegal to own uranium 238?

Yet, the truth is, you can buy uranium ore from places like Amazon or Ebay, and you won’t have to produce any special authorization to get it. The purpose of buying Uranium-238, the most common isotope of the element, is purely for research.

Why Thorium is a bad idea?

Irradiated Thorium is more dangerously radioactive in the short term. The Th-U cycle invariably produces some U-232, which decays to Tl-208, which has a 2.6 MeV gamma ray decay mode. Bi-212 also causes problems. These gamma rays are very hard to shield, requiring more expensive spent fuel handling and/or reprocessing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwRt74nzRmY