The U.S. Senate has decisively voted to approve a significant piece of legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s nuclear energy industry.
The bill was passed with a vote tally of 88-2, with Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) opposing it. This nuclear package was merged with another bill that reauthorized the U.S. Fire Administration and funding programs for firefighters. This combined legislation will also be sent to the president for approval.
The objective of the measure is to accelerate the approval process for the construction of new nuclear facilities, as many existing plants in the country are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. Furthermore, it reduces the licensing fees that energy companies are required to pay to initiate projects. Additionally, it instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to compile a report that explores methods to simplify and hasten the environmental review process.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) remarked to reporters, “This will be a historic moment for small modular reactors, which represent the future of nuclear energy.”
Proponents of the legislation assert that it provides a significant boost to the nation’s nuclear power sector.
Lesley Jantarasami, managing director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s energy program, stated to The Hill, “This legislation facilitates the process through which the industry must obtain approvals for constructing these projects.”
A substantial majority of House members also supported the bipartisan nuclear-fire bill, passing it with a vote of 393-13-1. Representative Rashida Tlaib, a progressive Democrat from Michigan, voted “present” to express her support for the fire provision while opposing the nuclear aspect.
The Trump administration has placed a strong emphasis on “unleashing American energy.”
President Trump issued four executive orders directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline regulations and expedite new licenses for nuclear power facilities, committing to act on applications within 18 months.
The United States was once the global leader in nuclear design and construction; however, delays and high costs have allowed China to take over that role, as it is currently constructing an unprecedented number of reactors.
The directives are intended to accelerate federal permitting processes for new nuclear projects and technologies, as well as to implement strategies aimed at reducing costs and the NRC’s operational footprint.
The sector is set to gain from federal subsidies, as the draft budget legislation from the House of Representatives maintains tax incentives for both new and existing nuclear facilities, provided they commence construction before January 1, 2029.
The objective is to triple the domestic nuclear power generation within the next 25 years, increasing capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by the year 2050.
The regulations establish an 18-month timeline for the NRC to respond to industry applications and to create a pilot program designed to bring three new experimental reactors online by July 4, 2026, within a mere 13 months.
Additionally, they invoke the Defense Production Act to facilitate federal purchases of nuclear fuel, thereby strengthening the domestic supply chain and diminishing Russia’s considerable influence over it. Until 2023, the United States sourced a significant portion of its enriched uranium from Russia; this practice ended following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the passage of a bipartisan bill.
The directives also instruct the Energy and Defense departments to explore the feasibility of restarting closed nuclear power facilities and to identify potential sites for reactors on public lands and military bases.
In accordance with the order to reorganize the NRC, it is stated that “the current structure and staffing of the NRC are misaligned with Congress’s directive that the NRC shall not unduly restrict the benefits of nuclear power.” It mandates that the NRC collaborate with the Department of Government Efficiency to “restructure the NRC to facilitate the swift processing of license applications and the integration of innovative technologies.”
In order to expedite the advancement of nuclear power, the directives empower the U.S. Energy Secretary to authorize specific advanced reactor designs and projects, bypassing the NRC. However, fulfilling Trump’s objective will be challenging considering the present condition of the U.S. nuclear industry.
Currently, the NRC is reviewing proposals from companies and utilities aimed at developing small nuclear reactors that are expected to produce energy in the early 2030s.
The agency expects the evaluation process to last three years or less, which exceeds the 18-month timeframe allowed by Trump’s directives.
