Did the U.S. nuclear energy sector just have its best month ever? Department of Energy | 9/12/2022 |
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The short answer is yes! #Nuclear was actually trending on Twitter on August 3 following a series of positive developments within the nation’s nuclear energy sector. From President Joe Biden signing the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law to the certification of the first U.S. small modular reactor, nuclear is finally having a moment. And this is just the beginning. CERTIFYING THE FIRST SMALL MODULAR REACTOR On July 29, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced its intent to issue a final rule certifying NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR). The company’s 50 megawatt-electric power module will become the first SMR design approved by the NRC for use in the United States. NuScale is currently seeking an uprate to enable each module to generate up to 77 megawatts. They plan to submit their application for NRC review later this year. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has invested more than $600 million in the development of NuScale’s SMR
since 2014. DOE is currently working with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems to demonstrate the NuScale technology at Idaho National Laboratory by 2029. The company has also signed several agreements to explore the possibility of deploying SMR plants in 11 different countries, including Poland,
Romania, the Czech Republic, and Jordan. Companies can begin referencing the SMR design in
their combined license applications 30 days after the NRC publishes its final rule in the Federal Register. |
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DEPLOYING SMRS IN TENNESSEE On August 2, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced an agreement with GE-Hitachi to support planning
and preliminary licensing efforts for the potential deployment of a BWRX-300 SMR at the Clinch River site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The new agreement will provide additional insights into the viability of deploying smaller reactors in the Tennessee valley and builds on a recent
collaboration with Ontario Power Generation to develop SMRs in both the U.S. and Canada. The Clinch River site currently holds the nation’s only early-site permit from the NRC for SMRs.
FUELING PLANT VOGTLE UNIT 3 The next day, the NRC announced the authorization of Southern Nuclear to load nuclear fuel and begin operation at Vogtle Unit 3 in Georgia. This is the first time ever the NRC authorized a reactor’s initial startup through their new “Part 52” licensing process and transitions the project out of the regulator’s construction reactor oversight program and into the operating reactor oversight process. Unit 3 and Unit 4 are both expected to be operational in 2023 and will be the first U.S. reactors to use Westinghouse’s AP1000 technology. Once the expansion project is complete, Plant Vogtle will be the largest single generator of clean power in the United States. Fuel loading at Unit 3 is expected to begin this October.
X-ENERGY AND DOW BRING THE HEAT On August 9, Dow agreed to deploy X-energy’s advanced reactor at one of
its U.S. Gulf Coast sites by 2030. Dow is the first U.S. manufacturer to announce its
intention to use SMRs to provide clean process heat and power at one of its facilities. X-energy is currently developing a Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor that is expected to be operational by 2028 thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (BIL). The
company also recently completed a $40 million award with DOE to finalize the basic design of the Xe-100 nuclear power plant and further
develop its TRISO-X particle fuel.
HISTORIC CLIMATE LEGISLATION SIGNED Finally, on August 16, history was made with
President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act (2022) into law. IRA is the most
significant piece of U.S. climate legislation and sends a strong signal to the nuclear energy industry that it will be counted on to help
us achieve our net-zero ambitions. IRA includes several tax credits and incentives to support
the continued operation of the existing fleet (our nation’s largest source of clean energy) and the potential deployment of advanced reactors. The legislation also includes $700 million for the Office of Nuclear Energy to support the development of a
domestic supply chain for high-assay low-enriched uranium, and an extra $150 million for our office to improve the overall R&D infrastructure at our
national labs. MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD
Recent DOE analysis estimates the clean energy provisions from IRA and BIL alone could reduce carbon emissions by 1 million metric tons as we create thousands of clean energy jobs in the process.
Yes, momentum is definitely on nuclear energy’s side, but we can’t rest on our laurels to make this clean energy transition happen. Expect many more great months ahead for the U.S. nuclear energy sector as DOE continues to support the implementation of this Administration’s priorities to support a clean and just energy transition to net-zero. Let’s get to work! |
September 21-23, 2022 NEW VENUE: CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT IN ARLINGTON, VA! We are pleased to host the 2022 National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal
Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Join us to discuss a new era of cleanup success. Hear from senior DOE officials, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more. Additional information on registration and hotel room blocks is available here. We look forward to seeing you in September! |
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Ellis selected for Senior Executive Service role DOE Personnel Announcement | 09/9/22 On Friday, September 9, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) announced that Kristen Ellis has been selected for appointment to the Senior Executive Service as Director for Regulatory, Intergovernmental, and
Stakeholder Engagement within the Office of Regulatory and Policy Affairs. In this role,
she will lead the implementation and monitoring of the environmental regulatory compliance function to support EM cleanup efforts while interacting with communities and engaged stakeholders. Kristen had more than 21 years of experience at DOE, most recently as EM’s Acting Director for Regulatory, Intergovernmental, and Stakeholder Engagement since June 2021. During that time, she also was EM’s senior advisor for STEM and talent acquisition. Previously, Kristen served as Chief of Staff for the DOE Under Secretary for Science overseeing all daily operations, including personnel, budgets, policy, media, and interface with DOE senior leadership. She also has
held the posts of EM Director for the Office of External Affairs, Director of the EM Intergovernmental Office, and Designated Federal Official for the EM Advisory Board. Earlier in her career, Kristen served within DOE’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. ECA appreciates the many years of partnership with Kristen, and extends our congratulations! |
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POLICY & LEGISLATIVE Fri, Sept 16 at 2:00 PM ET - Nuclear Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act Webinar The recently enacted
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to have significant impacts on the power grid. The law includes approximately $369 billion in incentives for clean energy and climate-related program spending, including several provisions aimed at increasing nuclear power generation: Production Tax Credits for existing nuclear plants and new advanced nuclear reactors; an Investment Tax Credit for clean electricity technologies; loan guarantees; and funding for research, development and production of
domestic High Assay Low Enrichment Uranium (HALEU) fuel. This webinar will feature an expert panel to discuss the IRA’s nuclear programs and share their opinions on how the law will impact nuclear power. Time will be available for Q&A. To register for the webinar, click here. |
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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