Neutrality Studies Insider Reveals Insane Nuke Industry Facts | Greg Mello
Feb 15, 2026
Greg Mello, engineer and longtime nuclear policy watchdog, co-founded the Los Alamos Study Group. He recounts blocking plutonium projects, exposes industrial limits and rising costs in U.S. warhead programs. He warns about privatized production, labor shortages (electricians leaving for AI), regulatory rollbacks, and the political forces fueling nuclear expansion.
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'Can-Do' Claims Clash With Reality
- Nuclear executives now push a "can-do" acceleration narrative claiming production times can be halved.
- This technical optimism conflicts with structural, regulatory, and labor realities that limit rapid expansion.
Plywood Shortage Halted Construction
- A construction manager said projects halted because "there is no plywood to be obtained anywhere near us" after COVID.
- Small supply shocks like plywood shortages can stop major nuclear construction work.
AI Hires Draining Skilled Nuclear Workers
- Pantex and other sites lost skilled craftsmen to higher-paying AI data center jobs, sometimes dozens in a single day.
- Electricians and technicians now command far higher pay outside the nuclear complex, draining its skilled labor pool.
