The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a key piece of legislation to bolster the country\u2019s nuclear energy sector.<\/p>\n
The bill passed by a vote of 88-2 with Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) opposing the measure. The nuclear package was combined with another bill that reauthorized the U.S. Fire Administration and grant programs for firefighters. This combined package will also go to the president\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe benefit from more tools in the toolbox as we take on the climate crisis\u2014with the urgency the moment demands,\u201d Zaidi added.<\/p>\n
The measure aims to speed up the process of approving the construction of new nuclear plants as many of the country\u2019s existing plants reach the end of their serviceable lives. In addition, it cuts the licensing fees that power companies must pay to begin projects. It also mandates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare a report examining ways to simplify and expedite the environmental review process.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully it will be history-making in terms of small modular reactors, which is the future of nuclear,\u201d Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) told reporters Thursday before senators voted.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the measure say it\u2019s a tremendous boost for the nation\u2019s nuclear power sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a facilitator of the process by which industry has to get approvals for building these projects,\u201d Lesley Jantarasami, managing director of the Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s energy program, told The Hill.<\/p>\n
The measure is not without critics, however.<\/p>\n
Edwin Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, believes that a provision altering the mission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prevent it from \u201cunnecessarily\u201d restricting nuclear power will make the nation\u2019s power station fleet less safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just see this as inviting the industry to challenge every decision that the commission tries to make that has the potential to impose more than this minimum amount of regulation and could essentially paralyze it from actually working to improve nuclear safety and security,\u201d he told The Hill.<\/p>\n
The vast majority of House members also advanced the bipartisan nuclear-fire bill, in a 393-13-1 vote, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a far-left Michigan Democrat, voting \u201cpresent\u201d to show support for the fire provision but opposition to the nuclear portion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI voted present in objection to the ridiculous decision to tie the reauthorization of vital firefighting programs for our communities together with poison pills that undermine nuclear safety and were strongly opposed by leading grassroots environmental organizations,\u201d she told The Hill.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has placed an extreme focus on \u201cunleashing American energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Department of Energy posted a release noting 11 top wins in the first 100 days of the Trump Administration:<\/p>\n
1. Restarting the Palisades Nuclear Plant
\n2. Unleashing American-Made SMRs
\n3. Dow and X-Energy Seek Advanced Reactor Construction Permit
\n4. HALEU Headed to 5 Advanced Reactor Developers
\n5. First Higher Enriched Fuel in U.S. Commercial Reactor
\n6. First Fast Reactor Fuel Safety Test of the 21st Century
\n7. Reducing Dependence on China-Sourced Cobalt
\n8. New Testbed Propels Research on Nuclear-Powered Rockets
\n9. First-of-a-Kind Molten Salt Test Loop Unveiled
\n10. Cracking the Code on Molten Salt Fuel Production
\n11. Advancing an American Civil Nuclear Deal in Poland<\/p>\n
\u201cNuclear energy is off to a fast start in the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. Several major milestones have already been announced since President Trump took office in January, from strengthening our nuclear fuel supply chain to supporting the nation\u2019s first restart of a retired nuclear power plant,\u201d the press release from the Energy Department stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe long-awaited nuclear renaissance is right around the corner thanks to President Trump as the Administration works to restore American energy dominance to bring more reliable, secure, and affordable power back to U.S. taxpayers,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a key piece of legislation to bolster the country\u2019s nuclear energy sector. The bill passed by a vote of 88-2 with Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) opposing the measure. The nuclear package was combined with another bill that reauthorized the U.S. Fire Administration and grant…<\/p>\n