Companion to American Nuclear Infrastructure Act debutsNuclear NewsPower & OperationsDecember 23, 2020, 12:00PM|Nuclear News StaffKinzingerDoyleRep. Adam Kinzinger (R., Ill.) last week introduced legislation to help economically troubled nuclear power plants and authorize funding for “nuclear closure communities.”The Preserving Existing Nuclear Energy Generation Act (H.R. 9015)—introduced in the House on December 17 and cosponsored by Rep. Mike Doyle (D., Pa.)—is a companion bill to the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (S. 4897), the bipartisan measure introduced in the Senate in November and moved to the Senate floor earlier this month. On December 18, H.R. 9015 was referred to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.Making the case: “The greatest source of zero-emission bulk power in this country is slowly dying on the vine,” Kinzinger said, adding that in Illinois 11 operating nuclear reactors provide 88 percent of the state’s emission-free electricity. "But a combination of factors, including misguided fears about nuclear power, have hampered the political will to ensure this revolutionary technology continues to power our neighborhoods, schools, and communities," he said.“I believe in a state's right to determine its own energy portfolio," Kinzinger continued, "but what I'm seeing is massive public support across Illinois for nuclear being met with political gridlock in Springfield. So now, it’s time for a federal solution.”Bill basics: H.R. 9015 would allocate financial credits to “certified” reactors through an “emissions avoidance program” to be established by the Environmental Protection Agency administrator in consultation with the secretary of energy. To be certified for the program, a reactor would have to reside in the licensee response column of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor oversight process action matrix (indicating no significant safety issues) and be “projected to cease operations due to economic factors.” In addition, plant operators would be required to provide information showing that the level of greenhouse gas emissions would rise if the reactor were to close and be replaced by another type of power generation.H.R. 9015 would further establish a grant program to provide financial aid to local governments impacted by plant closures and assist with local economic development.Tags:action matrixamerican nuclear infrastructure actenvironmental protection agencyh.r. 9015Share:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear law experts offer reasons for optimismIn a January 14 "Nuclear Industry Recap of 2020" blog post, attorneys Sachin Desai and Amy C. Roma list some of the actions taken by the federal government over the past 12 months to improve the status of the U.S. nuclear community.Desai and Roma, both of whom practice nuclear and radioactive materials law at Hogan Lovells, look at actions by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and Congress and find much to be optimistic about.Go to Article
Senate bill introduced to reestablish U.S. leadership in nuclear energyBarrassoWhitehouseThe American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA), S. 4897, released as draft legislation in July and supported by a panel of energy experts at a Senate hearing in August, has been introduced in the Senate.The bipartisan bill—sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and cosponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), and Cory Booker (D., N.J.)—was introduced on November 16.Go to Article
Barrasso: The future of nuclear energy is AmericanSen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) authored an op-ed that was published in the Casper Star Tribune this week on the importance of rebuilding domestic uranium production. The article was published on the heels of a draft Senate bill, the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020, that was released on July 29. Go to Article