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The bill, which could accelerate the development of next-generation nuclear power reactors, heads to Biden's desk for approval
O Congress approved a bill with the aim of boosting nuclear energy in the USA. The Accelerating the Deployment of Advanced Versatile Nuclear Energy for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act now awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become law. The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday, after the House of Representatives approved a similar bill in February.
The bill aims to accelerate the development of next-generation nuclear reactors and position the U.S. to lead the international market, as well as help keep older reactors in operation. Nuclear energy is still a divisive solution to reduce gas emissions greenhouse gases that cause climate change, but has gained bipartisan support in recent years.
Instructions for the Department of Energy
The ADVANCE Act directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to streamline the approval process for the international export of American nuclear technology and reduce regulatory costs for companies trying to license advanced nuclear reactors. It creates incentives for the successful deployment of these technologies and tasks the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with creating a “timely” path to licensing small reactors on brownfield sites and former fossil fuel generation sites. The project also seeks to speed up licensing review for new reactors at existing nuclear sites and simplify the environmental review process.
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The legislation has already provoked strong reactions from environmental groups that support or oppose nuclear energy. On the one hand, nuclear power is seen as a way to complement fluctuating renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, with a constant source of energy that does not generate planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.
“As we continue to decarbonize our nation’s energy system and address growing demand for energy, we need every option available and nuclear energy will play an important role in ensuring we can meet these challenges,” said Evan Chapman, director of U.S. federal policy at the Clean Air Task Force, in an emailed statement.
Concerns about health and environmental risks
Other groups are concerned about the health and environmental risks associated with nuclear power. In addition to accidents, like what happened at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station in Japan in 2011, the US is still struggling to find a safe place to store radioactive waste for centuries. There are also concerns about the possible environmental impacts of mining and processing uranium for fuel.
“Make no mistake: This is not about making the reactor licensing process more efficient, but rather about weakening safety and security oversight generally, a long-standing goal of the industry,” said Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear energy safety at Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement about the ADVANCE Act this week before its passage.
