[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 108 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MODIFICATIONS OF CREDIT FOR PRODUCTION FROM ADVANCED NUCLEAR POWER 
                               FACILITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA

                              of arizona-

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2017

  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1551, which 
improves the Section 45(J) nuclear production tax credit (NPTC), as 
authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. I am proud to be a 
cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation and thank Congressman Rice of 
South Carolina and Congressman Blumenauer of Oregon for their 
leadership on this issue.
  The NPTC encourages the development of advanced nuclear power plants 
that make strides in safety and reliability but is limited to the first 
6,000 megawatts of new generating capacity constructed by 2020. Since 
passage of the Act, more advanced reactors, including small modular 
reactors (SMRs), have moved steadily through the research and 
development stage and could be ready for commercial deployment by the 
middle of the next decade.
  Once approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), these 
technologies will provide reliable, carbon-free baseload electricity 
with safety features that nearly eliminate the possibility of a 
radiological release. The first SMRs in the United States will most 
likely be in the West. Arizona energy providers like the Salt River 
Project and Arizona Public Service are both evaluating the potential 
use of small modular reactors as they replace aging generation 
capacity.
  When the NPTC expires in 2020, it will likely do so without reaching 
the megawatt cap. H.R. 1551 makes the remaining credit available beyond 
2020, providing a powerful incentive for the next generation of 
advanced nuclear and SMR projects. I strongly support these efforts and 
encourage you to consider the positive impact these changes would have 
on incentivizing a new generation of safe, reliable, and carbon-free 
advanced nuclear power.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and to 
move America toward energy independence.

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