Unfortunately, the world is moving backward in key respects.Worldwide, governments need to extend the lifetimes of existing nuclear plants, work with industry to finance new ones, and redouble efforts to improve waste disposal and otherwise ease the public’s mind about potential risks.Going forward, any increases to the commission’s budget should be conditioned on boosting US nuclear production; if the NRC can’t adapt to this challenge, Congress should push it aside and authorize a new overseer for advanced reactors.Their overriding goals should shift from total risk avoidance to maximizing nuclear power, accelerating innovation, and reducing carbon emissions with technologies old and new.More From Bloomberg Opinion:• Fusion Energy, Long Elusive, Is Starting to Look Real: Editorial• More Nuclear Power Is What Both Parties Want: Matthew Yglesias• Nuclear Power Has One Last Chance to Thrive in US: Liam DenningThe Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board."