A bipartisan group of senators led by Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), a comprehensive blueprint for the U.S. to once again lead the world in next-generation nuclear power.
The bill (S. 3422) would direct the Department of Energy to establish specific goals to align the federal government, national labs and private sector in efforts to accelerate advanced nuclear technologies. The language echoes the Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies Act (S. 1457) from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Booker, which the Senate energy panel approved in March.
It would also require DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy to develop a 10-year strategic plan that supports advanced nuclear R&D goals.
NELA addresses the lack of domestic supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HA-LEU), which will be needed to fuel most advanced reactors being designed. NELA establishes a program to provide a minimum amount of HA-LEU to U.S. advanced reactor developers from DOE stockpiles until a new long-term supply is developed.
Advanced fuels and materials will also need a reliable testing ground. NELA directs DOE to construct a fast neutron research facility that is necessary to test reactor components and demonstrate their safe and reliable operation. Currently, the only machines capable of producing a fast neutron spectrum are located in Russia and China. Similar language was included in the Senate-approved Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (S. 97).
NELA also initiates a long-term power purchase agreement pilot between the DOE and utilities to procure nuclear power and reauthorizes nuclear engineering scholarships to maintain a robust pipeline of nuclear engineering talent.
“NELA is a broad and bold step toward developing the federal goals and public-private partnerships necessary to traverse the dreaded valley of death that often stops groundbreaking nuclear innovation from winning in the marketplace,” ClearPath Action Executive Director Rich Powell said. “It’s also another great example of the bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for forging ahead with the next-generation of clean and reliable nuclear technologies that China, Russia and others are trying to corner the global market on.”
HOUSE APPROVES EXPEDITING LNG EXPORTS
House lawmakers Sept. 6 approved a bill (H.R. 4606) from Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) to expedite exports of small amounts of liquefied natural gas. The exports would qualify for categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act. The bill would codify into law a final Department of Energy rule that went into effect Aug. 22 by approving the export of LNG cargoes up to 140 million cubic feet per day. This could open up new markets in the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Meanwhile, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is speeding up its environmental reviews of LNG export terminals, a process that takes years. The agency issued updated schedules for the environmental review of 12 liquefied natural gas export projects, including six in Texas and projects in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alaska.
MIT has released two new studies underscoring how nuclear power and other clean energy sources are needed to address climate goals and ensure a reliable power mix.
The best way to tackle electricity emissions is to use the most inclusive mix of low-carbon electricity sources, according to a Sept. 6 study by MIT researchers. A less costly and lower-risk route to a carbon-free grid should involve not just renewable sources such as wind, solar and energy storage batteries but also nuclear, geothermal, bioenergy and natural gas with carbon capture, the study found.
A second Sept. 3 study from the MIT Energy Initiative, in collaboration with Idaho National Lab and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, similarly concluded that efforts to address climate change will be much more difficult and costly unless nuclear energy is meaningfully incorporated into the global mix of low-carbon energy technologies. Study authors will present the findings and recommendations at events Sept. 25 in Washington and Oct. 9 in Tokyo.
ClearPath has added new members to its growing DC-based legislative and policy teams.
Capitol Hill veteran Chris Tomassi has joined ClearPath as government affairs director, focusing on better utilizing clean energy innovation dollars.
Tomassi comes from the Senate Appropriations Committee, where he oversaw EPA and other funding since January 2015 as a Republican aide on the Interior and Environment Subcommittee. That followed a two-year stint as senior counsel and aide on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on issues relating to the Interior Department, White House Council on Environmental Quality, EPA, National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. He was also a senior legislative assistant and held other roles for Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Idaho) for nearly a decade, including on energy, environment, tax, budget and appropriations.
Faith Smith has also joined ClearPath as a policy analyst, focusing on energy storage solutions, the energy-water nexus and technological innovation policies.
Smith worked for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permits Section and with Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper’s energy program. She recently completed graduate studies at the University of Texas-Austin centered on the energy-water nexus, water management and international energy and environmental policy. While at UT, she was a member of the nationally-renowned Webber Energy Group, conducting research on important issues at the intersection of energy, technology, policy and the environment.
THE PATH AHEAD
THURSDAY Senate Environment and Public Works hearing, “Advanced Nuclear Technology: Safety and Associated Benefits of Licensing Accident Tolerant Fuels for Commercial Nuclear Reactors.” DETAILS
