The United States has taken an important step toward becoming a nuclear reactor hub. On Tuesday, June 18, the Senate approved the bill Accelerating Deployment of the Advanced and Diversified Nuclear Power for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act. by 88 votes to 2. The version also received bipartisan support in the House, where it passed by a vote of 365 to 33 earlier this year, leaving the way open for the bill to reach President Biden’s desk.
The past decade has seen more than a dozen reactors shut down, and only two new reactors opened, a pair launched last month in Georgia at a cost of more than $30 billion. The ADVANCE Act aims to expand the reach of the nation Nuclear energy industry By creating incentives and reducing the time and cost of building nuclear reactors. These attempts include financial prizes for the first companies to reach certain targets, such as implementing recycling of recycled nuclear waste.
Much of the ADVANCE Act focuses on… Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent government agency that monitors nuclear use, including commercial nuclear power plants. The bill changes the role of the NRC, requiring it to create a new mission statement that states that “licensing and regulation of the civilian use of radioactive materials and nuclear energy shall be conducted in a manner that is efficient and does not unnecessarily limit the benefits of the civilian use of radioactive materials and nuclear energy.” Radioactive materials and nuclear energy technology for the community.” It also asks the NRC to speed up the process of reviewing licenses and hiring staff, along with improving “the approval process for the export of U.S. technology to international markets.”
In a statement following the bill’s passage, Tom Carper, Chairman of the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said, “The ADVANCE Act will provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with the tools and manpower it needs to efficiently review new nuclear technologies, while maintaining the critical importance of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.” Safety mission and creating thousands of jobs.”
However, not everyone supports the bill, with critics warning that it includes safety. Senators Bernie Sanders Ed Markey was the two opposing voices, the latter arguing that the ADVANCE Act turns the NRC into a facilitator rather than a regulator. “This bill puts promotion instead of protection, and corporate profits instead of cleaning up the community.” Marky stated. “The ADVANCE Act, as attached to the Fire Safety and Grants Act, includes language requiring the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to rewrite its mission to state that its regulation and oversight shall not ‘unnecessarily limit’ civilian nuclear activity, regardless of whether it is beneficial or harmful to public safety.” And national security, the NRC should not be the nuclear fragmentation committee.”