“America must lead the commercialization of affordable and abundant nuclear energy, and so DOE will focus on the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology, including small modular reactors,” Wright said. “Small modular reactors will provide reliable power for our nation’s growing energy demands, with the added benefits of flexible deployment due to their compact size and modular design.”
Wright also stressed that the nation’s national labs are the engine that drives research and development. “We will prioritize research that supports true technological breakthroughs, such as nuclear fusion, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and AI, which will maintain America’s global competitiveness,” he said.
Proven technology: “Nuclear energy is incredible,” Wright stated. “It can provide not just electricity but also high-temperature process heat, critical to making the materials we need for planes, trains, cars, and houses. Now is the time for a nuclear renaissance. DOE is going to use all available tools, from direct funding to loans, to unleash this pivotal form of reliable energy.”
Fleischmann and Kaptur: Subcommittee chair Chuck Fleischmann (R., Tenn.) expressed his support for the National Nuclear Security Administration, including for more resources in the NNSA’s base discretionary budget request. Ranking member Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio) voiced her concern about the $20 billion in proposed cuts to DOE programs.
Fleischmann asked Wright about specific steps that the DOE is taking to accelerate the development of commercially competitive HALEU capacity in the United States. Wright responded that Congress’s $2.7 billion allocation for this purpose has not been deployed yet, but that the DOE was “working on it.” He added that the DOE has allocated HALEU in DOE stockpiles to five companies with next-generation reactors to help get the technologies developed and produced.
Fleischmann then asked about the DOE’s strategy for the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel in the United States. Wright recognized that the growing volume of used fuel could be of value to next-generation nuclear reactors and said that the DOE is preparing a study to be released soon on the appropriate way to move forward on reprocessing.
Simpson: Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) invited Wright to tour Idaho National Laboratory and asked him how President Trump’s budget might affect reactor development and demonstrations. Wright responded that the administration’s cuts to the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy do not reflect a lack of focus or desire for nuclear energy. He promised that the Trump administration would work to bring in tens of millions of dollars in private capital to build nuclear reactors.
Wright further explained that direct grants from DOE-NE would be used to continue the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and obtain more test reactors for INL. He accepted Simpson’s offer to visit INL, and he highlighted the prominence of INL in advancing nuclear technologies.
Levin: Rep. Mike Lenin (D., Calif.) stressed the importance of a DOE strategy for the back end of the fuel cycle, and he asked Wright if he would work with Congress in a bipartisan way to support an appropriate level of funding for managing used fuel. Wright agreed to do so, and he explained his desire to pursue an opt-in approach for hosting a used fuel disposal site.
Guest: Rep. Michael Guest (R., Miss.) asked Wright how the DOE is working to meet growing energy needs and compete in the AI race. Wright responded that the DOE and the government as a whole need to “get out of the way” to allow private investment and the private market to bring new energy technologies on line, emphasizing that nuclear energy is “perfectly positioned” to meet this demand.
