ENERGY COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE
DOE, communities, and policy experts discuss next steps for high-level waste in the Biden Administration
ECA Staff | 3/5/2021
Last week ECA held a webinar on the path forward on high-level waste for the new administration, including recommendations for the consent-based siting process and potential alternative solutions. The webinar featured speakers from DOE and local governments, in addition to research scholars and nuclear policy experts.
Mark Gilbertson, DOE-EM Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory & Policy Affairs, provided an overview of the defense high-level waste program, mentioning recent progress made at waste processing sites, Hanford, Savannah River Site, and Idaho National Laboratory He noted in his presentation, “EM will continue to execute timely decisions and innovative solutions for reprocessing waste and SNF until a disposal facility is available.”
The webinar included a panel made up of local elected officials and community leaders who represent the sites impacted by high-level waste. Mayor Rebecca Casper (Idaho Falls, ID), Councilmember Bob Thompson (Richland, WA), Councilmember J.J. Chavez (Carlsbad, NM), and Rick McCleod (Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization) discussed the need for education and outreach to their communities on HLW issues and the potential need to re-examine state agreements that govern storage of
waste.
As newly sworn-in Secretary Jennifer Granholm outlined in her confirmation hearing, high-level waste policy may center around where we left off in 2016-17 following DOE’s draft consent-based siting process.
If the process moving forward resembles the Department’s proposals from a few years ago, ECA continues to urge DOE to work with local communities, states and tribes to define and identify components of “consent,” and ensure that there are opportunities for input at every level—federal, state, and local. Additionally, Congress and the administration must provide resources and funding for education, outreach, feasibility studies and research and development aspects for waste management and
disposal.
During her presentation, Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, identified matters that must be considered in consent agreements. They include:
- Long-term funding for technical assistance and education of the community for affected local governments (by the communities’ consultants)
- Regulatory oversight authority
- Clear technical parameters for the project – including volume limitations Legally enforceable milestones
- Penalties for failure to meet obligations Linking storage and final disposal
- Financial compensation/incentives and economic development assistance
- Triggers for termination Indemnification for communities, states and tribes
- Opportunities for future nuclear missions and economic development opportunities
A recording of the meeting and presentations are available here. To learn more about ECA’s upcoming meetings, click here.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DOE Announces $115 Million to Small Businesses for Clean Energy R&D Projects
U.S. Department of Energy | 3/4/2021
In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to build the American economy back better, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $115 million for small businesses pursuing clean energy research and development (R&D) projects. The projects range from grid modernization and carbon removal to renewable energy and energy storage.
“Through this program, DOE can support small businesses with seed money they desperately need to develop and deploy cutting-edge clean energy solutions that will help America fight climate change and create jobs,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “Importantly, by investing directly in small businesses, including diverse entrepreneurs, we can foster the creative ideas that will transform our nation’s energy sector, address the climate crisis, and build an equitable clean energy
economy.”
LEGISLATIVE
NOMINATIONS
CONTRACTING
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
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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