This initiative follows reports last year that the administration of Donald Trump planned to make approximately 20 metric tons of plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads available to American power companies

The Trump administration is reportedly in talks with five companies to provide old plutonium to convert into fuel for future nuclear reactors.

Companies say it’s a better way to dispose of the Cold War-era material — and fix a shortage of nuclear fuel. But the plan has also faced criticism.