Welcome to your Friday Rundown for the week ending Oct. 13. Good fortunes await even if you offer feedback today at info@clearpathaction.org.
PERRY: U.S. LOSING NUCLEAR RACE
Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the U.S. needs to support its “disregarded” nuclear sector “because we’ve been losing that race” to China, Russia and others in providing clean, reliable power and safeguarding national security in weapons non-proliferation talks. “I don’t think anyone would argue right now that nuclear energy is healthy. It’s not,” he told the House Energy Subcommittee Oct. 12. If we’re going to continue to be a leader in nuclear energy in the world we have to support this industry in this country.” Small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear “are the real wave of the future,” he added to Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio). Latta touted his bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act unanimously approved by House lawmakers in January that would require the Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission to consider new frameworks for licensing advanced nuclear reactors.
RELATED READ: Why China is Winning the Clean Energy Race AXIOS
RELATED READ: Perry Delivers Nuclear for Trump GREENWIRE
RELATED EVENT WEDNESDAY: Conversation with Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz: Why the U.S. Needs a Robust Nuclear Power Sector. DETAILS
RELATED EVENT THURSDAY: The Department of Energy and Nuclear Energy Institute host the Millennial Nuclear Caucus. DETAILS
Perry defended his department’s grid resiliency and reliability proposal sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a way to “kickstart a national discussion” because “for years, this has been kicked down the road.”
Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) underscored nuclear’s role in grid reliability in noting that nuclear plants stayed online in and near his district during Hurricane Harvey when coal and natural gas units went offline.
House Energy Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton signaled his intent to hold a hearing in the next couple of weeks on any lessons learned by the impact of the recent hurricanes.
CHINA, RUSSIA COMMANDEERING U.S. NUCLEAR TECH
China and Russia are commandeering advanced nuclear technology invented in the U.S. but never commercialized here. The U.S. military invented floating nuclear reactors in the 1950s and we have nearly 100 still in service in Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. But while the U.S. has never made a commercial floating reactor, China and Russia are each planning their first.
Russia is building one in Siberia as part of a larger effort to dominate the Arctic Circle. China’s effort is part of a larger land grab in the South China Sea and to further their military goals in direct opposition to U.S. interests.
The Nuclear Innovation Alliance has a report out with a set of recommendations to support development and commercialization of small modular reactors by U.S. companies.
Among the recommendations:
Congress and the Trump administration expanding support for new reactor design and licensing to include non-light water designs and extending support through design finalization
Congress amending nuclear energy tax credit to help first-of-a-kind small modular reactor projects
Secretary of Energy procuring clean, secure power for federal facilities via small modular reactor projects under development by the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and Tennessee Valley Authority
Perry suggested he won’t allow his department to micromanage what’s happening at national labs. “There’s clearly a balancing act that goes on between management at the top of an agency … versus allowing laboratories complete and total freedom,” he said at Thursday’s hearing in response to Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.). “Hopefully my experience as a CEO of a fairly large entity … informed me about how you put good, thoughtful, capable men and women into positions of management and free them to go manage and make the right decisions. That’s what you can expect out of me.”
The Wyoming Infrastructure Authority and California-based Center for Carbon Removal are teaming together to solicit new research into carbon capture and utilization. The infrastructure authority is pledging $250,000 toward research as part of its Carbon Recycling Labs project. Wyoming, which is the nation’s leading coal producer, is already a leader also on carbon capture efforts, including construction of a lab at a Gillette-area power plant that will host part of the $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE contest to make carbon capture profitable. AP
Indonesia will move ahead with the first phase of a $750 million 150-MW hydropower project. HYDROWORLD
SPEED READ
Sen. David Perdue: Renewing America’s Commitment to Nuclear Energy THE HILL
Gen. Jim Jones & Trent Lott: Energy Innovation Vital For Security THE HILL
