Congress passed a bill aimed at promoting the development of nuclear energy in the United States. The Accelerating the Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act is currently awaiting President Biden’s signature into law. The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday, following a similar bill passed by the House in February.
The bill aims to accelerate the development of next-generation nuclear reactors and put the United States at the forefront of international markets while helping aging reactors stay online. Nuclear energy remains a controversial solution for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, but it has gained bipartisan support in recent years.
Nuclear energy remains a controversial solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change
The ADVANCE Act directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to streamline the process for approving international exports of U.S. nuclear energy technology and reduce regulatory costs for companies trying to license advanced nuclear reactors. It provides incentives for the successful deployment of these technologies and tasks the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with creating a “just in time” pathway to license small reactors at brownfield and former fossil fuel power stations. It also seeks to speed up licensing reviews for new reactors at existing nuclear power plants and streamline the environmental review process.
The bill has prompted a backlash from environmental groups that support and oppose nuclear power. On the one hand, nuclear power is seen as a stable energy source that can supplement fluctuating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind without producing planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.
“As we continue to decarbonize the nation’s energy system and meet growing energy demands, we need all available options, and nuclear power will play an important role in ensuring we can meet these challenges,” said Evan D., director of federal policy for Clean Energy at America. Chapman Air Task Force said in an emailed statement.
“Make no mistake: This is not about making the reactor licensing process more efficient, but about weakening safety and security oversight across the board, which has been a long-standing industry goal,” said Edwin Lehmann, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Edwin Lyman said in a report.
