The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on May 31 passed legislation that promotes advanced nuclear reactors and related fuels, calls for regulatory changes at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and addresses nuclear power supply chain issues.
The committee approved the bill, Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2023, by a vote of 16-3.
The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
With respect to the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies, the bill:
- Places new limits on NRC fees for application review for advanced nuclear reactor applicants.
- Creates a prize, equal to assessed NRC fees, for successful deployment of certain advanced nuclear reactors.
- Requires NRC to report on licensing considerations for non-electric nuclear applications, including hydrogen production and energy storage.
- Adds costs related to pre-application activities and activities to review and approve or disapprove an application for an early site permit to demonstrate an advanced reactor at a DOE site to “Excluded Activities” for the purpose of NRC fees and charges.
- Requires NRC to evaluate policy and regulatory changes needed to support the licensing of nuclear facilities at Brownfield sites. It also authorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide technical assistance and financial support for efforts to site nuclear facilities at Brownfield sites and retired fossil fuel sites.
The bill also addresses nuclear fuel cycle, supply chain and infrastructure and workforce issues.
It requires the NRC to report on advanced manufacturing and construction techniques needed for nuclear reactors and establishes a “nuclear energy traineeship program” to address workforce needs for nuclear safety and nuclear tradecrafts.
The bill also requires the NRC to report on its readiness to license new uranium facilities to reduce reliance on Russian uranium and requires an annual NRC report on spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the U.S.
With respect to improving NRC efficiency, the bill increases NRC authority and budget to hire certain specialized staff and requires NRC to report to Congress on progress implementing changes to the NRC Corporate Support Funding required by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act.
