The U.S. is at a “tipping point” with its fading nuclear power sector, and the industry’s future is increasingly reliant on developing small nuclear reactors, a top Energy Department
official said Tuesday morning.
“We are in an extremely challenging moment in time, an inflection point in terms of the future of our nuclear fleet,” said Ed McGinnis, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
“I would say we are at a tipping point,” McGinnis testified at a hearing of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee. “Our ability to bring new reactors in the pipeline is key.”
McGinnis cited the importance of NuScale Power’s planned 50-megawatt small reactor, which he called “game changing.”
