Today, President Trump is issuing an Executive Order on Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration, which will further revitalize the United States nuclear energy sector, reinvigorate America’s space exploration program, and produce diverse energy options for national defense needs.
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today announced that their bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020 has been included as Division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, must-pass legislation that will be considered in the House and Senate starting today.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $30 million in initial funding for one of three programs under its new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has selected five teams to receive $30 million in FY20 funding for Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration projects. The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry, and companies were chosen through a funding opportunity announcement issued in May 2020.
On Wednesday, October 28th, the Department of Energy’s loan Program office (LPO) held an overview seminar on their new path for debt capital related to innovation in U.S. energy infrastructure. This is an attempt by the LPO to provide “access to debt capital for energy projects using innovative technology when commercial lenders cannot or will not provide financing.” This also included a pledge for flexible financing, individually customized for the specific needs of each borrower.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it has selected two U.S.-based teams to receive $160 million in initial funding under the new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). ARDP, announced in May, is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed yesterday addressed 70 participants during a U.S.-Japan working group meeting of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center(link is external) and the Howard Baker Forum(link is external) on opportunities for civil nuclear cooperation and co-financing between the United States and Japan.
Democrats are making public the initial draft of the clean energy bill (attached) that Rep. Hoyer announced the House would consider next week. On first read, there appears to be a variety of provisions that will lead this to be a partisan exercise (additional regulatory hurdles for project development, eminent domain restrictions for pipeline development, and some burdensome legal provisions that could embolden litigious activities that limit energy development).
Washington, DC - Chairman Bruce Hamilton has submitted his resignation from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to President Donald J. Trump. Upon his departure in early September, Vice Chairman Thomas Summers will serve as Acting Chairman.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), and U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released a comprehensive report on the climate crisis titled "The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People."
The United States Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) announced the addition of seven new members to its board of directors. This move expands the board from nine to fourteen, and brings a more diversified and expansive set of views into the organization's leadership structure.
For a viable future, the U.S. advanced nuclear industry needs emergency planning requirements based on the improved safety characteristics of the new generation of advanced reactor technologies and the reduced radiation source term presented by these designs. An approach that could apply the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) modernized emergency planning requirements at the site boundary of these reactors would be fully protective of public health and safety, and allow advanced reactors to be regulated like industrial facilities that have similar levels of risk...
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council has released the results of its 2020 Advanced Nuclear Survey of Developers. Seventeen Advanced Nuclear companies completed the entire survey in March 2020. Key policy issues facing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) were identified, as well as the characteristics of Advanced Reactors and the concerns of Advanced Nuclear Developers.
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council's (USNIC) Executive Board is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honorable Clarence "Bud" Albright as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council. Bud was previously serving as the Chairman of the USNIC Board since 2018. Albright is also the former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy where he provided leadership for energy and environmental programs, including: energy research and development; demonstration and deployment; environmental cleanup; and legacy management and radioactive waste management. He was appointed by President Bush and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Prior to joining the Department, Albright served as Staff Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce...
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, as the leading business consortium advocate for advanced nuclear energy and American nuclear energy exports globally, is writing to advise you of our strong and vigorous support for the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act, H.R. 6097, and its goal of maintaining America’s unparalleled leadership in Nuclear Energy research and development, and to provide this vital clean energy technology in the U.S. and around the world...
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, as the leading business consortium advocate for advanced nuclear energy and American nuclear energy exports globally, is writing to advise you of our strong and vigorous support for the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020 (AEIA), S. 2657, and one of its goals of moving America toward first place on Nuclear Energy to provide this vital clean energy technology in the U.S. and around the world...
The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) / Notice of Interest (NOI) on the Advanced Reactor Demonstration program. This document provides comments to assist the DOE in developing the appropriate program and contract solicitation language to encourage advanced nuclear reactors...
The United States Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) applauds the general focus and key funding initiatives included in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Congressional Budget Request. This request includes a record $1.36 billion for the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) with an added emphasis on developing advanced reactors and setting up a new reserve for domestically produced uranium...
To maintain U.S. global advanced nuclear leadership, it is important to have a versatile, high-energy neutron source. The U.S. Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) can provide that capability to accelerate research and test nuclear materials, fuel, and other components. The VTR can assist in developing innovative nuclear energy technologies that have inherent safety features, lower waste yields, the capability to consume waste materials, the ability to support both electric and non-electric applications, and other improvements over the current generation of reactors. Furthermore, the success of the VTR will advance the U.S. industry by not having domestic nuclear developers relying upon Russian or Chinese test facilities and allowing the U.S. to be a competitive international resource for irradiation and testing services. In addition, constructing the VTR will enable the U.S. government to demonstrate advanced reactor technologies...
