The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established in 1946 to oversee the development and regulation of atomic energy in the United States. Its primary goals included promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, ensuring safety, and managing nuclear weapons programs. The AEC played a crucial role in the early years of the atomic age, influencing both energy policy and national security. In 1974, the AEC was dissolved and its responsibilities were divided between two new agencies: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which focuses on regulating commercial nuclear power plants, and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), which later became part of the Department of Energy.