Ho Nieh, TVA board members, and nuclear fuel recycling bill head to Senate floor

Also, once confirmed, the four TVA members–Mitch Graves, Jeff Hagood, Randall Jones, and Arthur Graham–would bring the TVA back to a voting quorum after Trump dismissed three board members earlier this year. All four nominees promised at their hearing earlier in October to support the development of new small modular reactors, as Nuclear Newswire previously reported.

Nieh’s history: Nieh has been vice president of regulatory affairs at Southern Nuclear since 2021 and has been working as a loaned executive at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations since June 2024. Nieh had also worked in various capacities at the NRC in three previous stints totaling 23 years.

Nieh committed during his confirmation hearing to ensure that the NRC retains its independence regardless of political pressure and influence from the Trump administration, as Nuclear Newswire reported.

Nuclear REFUEL Act: The committee also advanced the Nuclear Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing (REFUEL) Act, which clarifies the licensing regime of nuclear used fuel recycling facilities that don’t separate plutonium, but that create a uranium-transuranic mixed fuel that can be used by advanced reactors and reduce nuclear waste.

Under the bill, it specifies that a uranium-transuranic facility would be licensed only under Part 70, which focuses on fuel cycle, versus Part 50 which focuses on reactors.