[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1419-S1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION CAPABILITIES ACT OF 2017
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I am here for the happy task of moving
a piece of bipartisan legislation that has been cleared on both sides
of the aisle. I am particularly pleased to be doing it in front of the
Presiding Officer because the Presiding Officer and I and Senator
Heitkamp and others worked so hard on the Carbon Capture Utilization
and Storage Act, which provides a means of encouraging carbon capture
technologies to develop. This is a related bill that I joined with
Senator Crapo on to advance. Senator Crapo has been our lead on this
bill. The bill will encourage innovation in the nuclear industry. So it
is a great pleasure for me to be here, and I am very honored that my
distinguished colleague Senator Crapo has joined me on the floor.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 153, S. 97.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 97) to enable civilian research and development
of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public
institutions, to expand theoretical and practical knowledge
of nuclear physics, chemistry, and materials science, and for
other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Crapo
amendment at the desk be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 2104) was agreed to, as follows
(Purpose: To modify provisions relating to the advanced nuclear energy
licensing cost-share grant program)
On page 20, line 3, insert ``in accordance with section 988
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352)'' before
the period at the end.
On page 20, strike lines 15 through 17.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as
amended, be considered read a third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there any further debate on the bill?
Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question
is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 97), as amended, was passed, as follows:
S. 97
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Energy Innovation
Capabilities Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION CAPABILITIES.
(a) Nuclear Energy.--Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 951. NUCLEAR ENERGY.
``(a) Mission.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out programs
of civilian nuclear research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application, including activities under this
subtitle.
``(2) Considerations.--The programs carried out under
paragraph (1) shall take into consideration the following
objectives:
``(A) Providing research infrastructure to promote
scientific progress and enable users from academia, the
National Laboratories, and the private sector to make
scientific discoveries relevant for nuclear, chemical, and
materials science engineering.
``(B) Maintaining nuclear energy research and development
programs at the National Laboratories and institutions of
higher education, including infrastructure at the National
Laboratories and institutions of higher education.
``(C) Providing the technical means to reduce the
likelihood of nuclear proliferation.
``(D) Increasing confidence margins for public safety of
nuclear energy systems.
``(E) Reducing the environmental impact of activities
relating to nuclear energy.
``(F) Supporting technology transfer from the National
Laboratories to the private sector.
``(G) Enabling the private sector to partner with the
National Laboratories to demonstrate novel reactor concepts
for the purpose of resolving technical uncertainty associated
with the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) through
(F).
``(b) Definitions.--In this subtitle:
``(1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term `advanced nuclear
reactor' means--
``(A) a nuclear fission reactor with significant
improvements over the most recent generation of nuclear
fission reactors, which may include--
``(i) inherent safety features;
``(ii) lower waste yields;
``(iii) greater fuel utilization;
``(iv) superior reliability;
``(v) resistance to proliferation;
``(vi) increased thermal efficiency; and
``(vii) the ability to integrate into electric and
nonelectric applications; or
``(B) a nuclear fusion reactor.
``(2) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
``(3) Fast neutron.--The term `fast neutron' means a
neutron with kinetic energy above 100 kiloelectron volts.
``(4) National laboratory.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
the term `National Laboratory' has the meaning given the term
in section 2.
``(B) Limitation.--With respect to the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and
the Sandia National Laboratories, the term `National
Laboratory' means only the civilian activities of the
laboratory.
``(5) Neutron flux.--The term `neutron flux' means the
intensity of neutron radiation measured as a rate of flow of
neutrons applied over an area.
``(6) Neutron source.--The term `neutron source' means a
research machine that provides neutron irradiation services
for--
``(A) research on materials sciences and nuclear physics;
and
[[Page S1420]]
``(B) testing of advanced materials, nuclear fuels, and
other related components for reactor systems.''.
(b) Nuclear Energy Research Programs.--
(1) In general.--Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 641(b)(1) of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16021(b)(1)) is amended by
striking ``section 942(d)'' and inserting ``section 952(c)''.
(c) Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative.--Section 953(a) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16273(a)) is amended by
striking ``, acting through the Director of the Office of
Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology,''.
(d) University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support.--
Section 954(d)(4) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16274(d)(4)) is amended by striking ``as part of a taking
into consideration effort that emphasizes'' and inserting
``that emphasize''.
(e) Department of Energy Civilian Nuclear Infrastructure
and Facilities.--Section 955 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16275) is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (c) and (d); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Versatile Neutron Source.--
``(1) Mission need.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2017, the
Secretary shall determine the mission need for a versatile
reactor-based fast neutron source, which shall operate as a
national user facility.
``(B) Consultations required.--In carrying out subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall consult with the private sector,
institutions of higher education, the National Laboratories,
and relevant Federal agencies to ensure that the user
facility described in subparagraph (A) will meet the research
needs of the largest practicable majority of prospective
users.
``(2) Establishment.--As soon as practicable after
determining the mission need under paragraph (1)(A), the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a detailed plan for the establishment of the user
facility.
``(3) Facility requirements.--
``(A) Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
user facility will provide, at a minimum, the following
capabilities:
``(i) Fast neutron spectrum irradiation capability.
``(ii) Capacity for upgrades to accommodate new or expanded
research needs.
``(B) Considerations.--In carrying out the plan submitted
under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall consider the
following:
``(i) Capabilities that support experimental high-
temperature testing.
``(ii) Providing a source of fast neutrons at a neutron
flux, higher than that at which current research facilities
operate, sufficient to enable research for an optimal base of
prospective users.
``(iii) Maximizing irradiation flexibility and irradiation
volume to accommodate as many concurrent users as possible.
``(iv) Capabilities for irradiation with neutrons of a
lower energy spectrum.
``(v) Multiple loops for fuels and materials testing in
different coolants.
``(vi) Additional pre-irradiation and post-irradiation
examination capabilities.
``(vii) Lifetime operating costs and lifecycle costs.
``(4) Deadline for establishment.--The Secretary shall, to
the maximum extent practicable, complete construction of, and
approve the start of operations for, the user facility by not
later than December 31, 2025.
``(5) Reporting.--The Secretary shall include in the annual
budget request of the Department an explanation for any delay
in the progress of the Department in completing the user
facility by the deadline described in paragraph (4).
``(6) Coordination.--The Secretary shall leverage the best
practices for management, construction, and operation of
national user facilities from the Office of Science.''.
(f) Security of Nuclear Facilities.--Section 956 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16276) is amended by
striking ``, acting through the Director of the Office of
Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology,''.
(g) High-Performance Computation and Supportive Research.--
Section 957 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16277) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 957. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTATION AND SUPPORTIVE
RESEARCH.
``(a) Modeling and Simulation.--The Secretary shall carry
out a program to enhance the capabilities of the United
States to develop new reactor technologies through high-
performance computation modeling and simulation techniques.
``(b) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with relevant
Federal agencies as described by the National Strategic
Computing Initiative established by Executive Order 13702 (80
Fed. Reg. 46177 (July 29, 2015)), while taking into account
the following objectives:
``(1) Using expertise from the private sector, institutions
of higher education, and the National Laboratories to develop
computational software and capabilities that prospective
users may access to accelerate research and development of
advanced nuclear reactor systems and reactor systems for
space exploration.
``(2) Developing computational tools to simulate and
predict nuclear phenomena that may be validated through
physical experimentation.
``(3) Increasing the utility of the research infrastructure
of the Department by coordinating with the Advanced
Scientific Computing Research program within the Office of
Science.
``(4) Leveraging experience from the Energy Innovation Hub
for Modeling and Simulation.
``(5) Ensuring that new experimental and computational
tools are accessible to relevant research communities,
including private sector entities engaged in nuclear energy
technology development.
``(c) Supportive Research Activities.--The Secretary shall
consider support for additional research activities to
maximize the utility of the research facilities of the
Department, including physical processes--
``(1) to simulate degradation of materials and behavior of
fuel forms; and
``(2) for validation of computational tools.''.
(h) Enabling Nuclear Energy Innovation.--Subtitle E of
title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 958. ENABLING NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION.
``(a) National Reactor Innovation Center.--There is
authorized a program to enable the testing and demonstration
of reactor concepts to be proposed and funded, in whole or in
part, by the private sector.
``(b) Technical Expertise.--In carrying out the program
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall leverage the
technical expertise of relevant Federal agencies and the
National Laboratories in order to minimize the time required
to enable construction and operation of privately funded
experimental reactors at National Laboratories or other
Department-owned sites.
``(c) Objectives.--The reactors described in subsection (b)
shall operate to meet the following objectives:
``(1) Enabling physical validation of advanced nuclear
reactor concepts.
``(2) Resolving technical uncertainty and increasing
practical knowledge relevant to safety, resilience, security,
and functionality of advanced nuclear reactor concepts.
``(3) General research and development to improve nascent
technologies.
``(d) Sharing Technical Expertise.--In carrying out the
program under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the Chairman of the
Commission in order to share technical expertise and
knowledge through--
``(1) enabling the testing and demonstration of advanced
nuclear reactor concepts to be proposed and funded, in whole
or in part, by the private sector;
``(2) operating a database to store and share data and
knowledge relevant to nuclear science and engineering between
Federal agencies and the private sector;
``(3) developing and testing electric and nonelectric
integration and energy conversion systems relevant to
advanced nuclear reactors;
``(4) leveraging expertise from the Commission with respect
to safety analysis; and
``(5) enabling technical staff of the Commission to
actively observe and learn about technologies developed under
the program.
``(e) Agency Coordination.--The Chairman of the Commission
and the Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding regarding the following:
``(1) Ensuring that--
``(A) the Department has sufficient technical expertise to
support the timely research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application by the civilian nuclear industry of
safe and innovative advanced nuclear reactor technology; and
``(B) the Commission has sufficient technical expertise to
support the evaluation of applications for licenses, permits,
and design certifications and other requests for regulatory
approval for advanced nuclear reactors.
``(2) The use of computers and software codes to calculate
the behavior and performance of advanced nuclear reactors
based on mathematical models of the physical behavior of
advanced nuclear reactors.
``(3) Ensuring that--
``(A) the Department maintains and develops the facilities
necessary to enable the timely research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application by the civilian
nuclear industry of safe and innovative reactor technology;
and
``(B) the Commission has access to the facilities described
in subparagraph (A), as needed.
``(f) Reporting Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities
Act of 2017, the Secretary, in consultation with the National
Laboratories, relevant Federal agencies, and other
stakeholders, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report assessing the capabilities of the
Department to authorize, host, and oversee privately funded
experimental advanced nuclear reactors as described in
subsection (b).
``(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall address--
``(A) the safety review and oversight capabilities of the
Department, including options to leverage expertise from the
Commission and the National Laboratories;
[[Page S1421]]
``(B) options to regulate privately proposed and funded
experimental reactors hosted by the Department;
``(C) potential sites capable of hosting privately funded
experimental advanced nuclear reactors;
``(D) the efficacy of the available contractual mechanisms
of the Department to partner with the private sector and
Federal agencies, including cooperative research and
development agreements, strategic partnership projects, and
agreements for commercializing technology;
``(E) the liability of the Federal Government with respect
to the disposal of low-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear
fuel, or high-level radioactive waste (as those terms are
defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982
(42 U.S.C. 10101));
``(F) the impact on the aggregate inventory in the United
States of low-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, or
high-level radioactive waste (as those terms are defined in
section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C.
10101));
``(G) potential cost structures relating to physical
security, decommissioning, liability, and other long-term
project costs; and
``(H) other challenges or considerations identified by the
Secretary.
``(3) Updates.--Once every 2 years, the Secretary shall
update relevant provisions of the report submitted under
paragraph (1) and submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress the update.
``(g) Savings Clauses.--
``(1) Licensing requirement.--Nothing in this section
authorizes the Secretary or any person to construct or
operate a nuclear reactor for the purpose of demonstrating
the suitability for commercial application of the nuclear
reactor unless licensed by the Commission in accordance with
section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42
U.S.C. 5842).
``(2) Financial protection.--Any activity carried out under
this section that involves the risk of public liability shall
be subject to the financial protection or indemnification
requirements of section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954
(42 U.S.C. 2210) (commonly known as the `Price-Anderson
Act').''.
(i) Budget Plan.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) (as amended by
subsection (h)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 959. BUDGET PLAN.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act
of 2017, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives 2 alternative 10-year budget plans for
civilian nuclear energy research and development by the
Secretary, as described in subsections (b) through (d).
``(b) Budget Plan Alternative 1.--One of the budget plans
submitted under subsection (a) shall assume constant annual
funding for 10 years at the appropriated level for the
civilian nuclear energy research and development of the
Department for fiscal year 2016.
``(c) Budget Plan Alternative 2.--One of the budget plans
submitted under subsection (a) shall be an unconstrained
budget.
``(d) Inclusions.--Each alternative budget plan submitted
under subsection (a) shall include--
``(1) a prioritized list of the programs, projects, and
activities of the Department to best support the development
of advanced nuclear reactor technologies;
``(2) realistic budget requirements for the Department to
implement sections 955(c), 957, and 958; and
``(3) the justification of the Department for continuing or
terminating existing civilian nuclear energy research and
development programs.''.
(j) Report on Fusion Innovation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives a report identifying engineering
designs for innovative fusion energy systems that have the
potential to demonstrate net energy production not later than
15 years after the start of construction.
(2) Inclusions.--The report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall identify budgetary requirements that would be necessary
for the Department of Energy to carry out a fusion innovation
initiative to accelerate research and development of the
engineering designs identified in the report.
(k) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended by striking the item
relating to section 957 and inserting the following:
``957. High-performance computation and supportive research.
``958. Enabling nuclear energy innovation.
``959. Budget plan.''.
SEC. 3. ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY LICENSING COST-SHARE GRANT
PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
(2) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Advanced
Nuclear Energy Cost-Share Grant Program established under
subsection (b).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program, to be known as the ``Advanced Nuclear Energy Cost-
Share Grant Program'', under which the Secretary shall make
cost-share grants to applicants for the purpose of funding a
portion of the Commission fees of the applicant for pre-
application review activities and application review
activities.
(c) Requirement.--The Secretary shall seek out technology
diversity in making grants under the program.
(d) Cost-Share Amount.--The Secretary shall determine the
cost-share amount for each grant under the program in
accordance with section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(42 U.S.C. 16352).
(e) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant under the program
may use the grant funds to cover Commission fees, including
those fees associated with--
(1) developing a licensing project plan;
(2) obtaining a statement of licensing feasibility;
(3) reviewing topical reports; and
(4) other--
(A) pre-application review activities;
(B) application review activities; and
(C) interactions with the Commission.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise to speak today on the Nuclear Energy
Innovation Capabilities Act, or NEICA. This measure is the result of a
strong bipartisan partnership among many Senators, including Senator
Whitehouse, Senator Risch, Senator Booker, Senator Hatch, Senator
Murkowski, and Senator Durbin, along with myself and a number of other
Senators who have worked with us on this legislation.
I want to give special thanks to Senator Whitehouse, who is here with
us today. He has been my tireless partner in this effort. I thank
Senator Whitehouse for his hard work and the assistance of his staff.
Sometimes, even on the easiest of legislation--and this is not in that
category; this is a critical, strong piece that has taken a lot of
attention--but sometimes it just takes a lot of work and effort and
time. I appreciate Senator Whitehouse's efforts to stick with us, as he
actually helped move this ball forward as we have tried to get this
across the finish line.
I also want to express strong thanks to Senator Risch, who also
deserves strong recognition for his tireless work to get this bill
advanced.
This is a Senate companion to a House measure of the very same name,
introduced by Representatives Weber, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Lamar
Smith. We have been working together to get this bill passed for some
time, and I am eager to work with my House colleagues to make sure that
NEICA is enacted as soon as possible.
We all recognize that innovation within the nuclear industry must
continue and must build on American preeminence in nuclear research and
development. Having grown up in Idaho Falls, ID, I am a strong
supporter of nuclear energy and the Idaho National Lab, which is a
world leader in R&D and a key partner in sustaining our Nation's
commercial nuclear power sector. The INL has been home to more than 50
one-of-a-kind nuclear test reactors. It has led innovation after
innovation and breakthrough after breakthrough. The imagination,
ingenuity, and hard work of the scientists at the Lab, along with the
scientists at Argonne and Oak Ridge, ensure that the United States
remains the leader in development and commercialization of nuclear
power.
Today, many in the industry are focusing on what it takes to keep the
current fleet of reactors alive and operational. Industry leaders are
worried about the waste issues, the economics of operation, and
navigating the requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Understandably, many are not focused on the future of nuclear power and
what lies beyond the current generation of reactors.
Congress must find a way to help industry deal with the very real
challenges that the current fleet faces. Congress must address the
waste issue, and we must evaluate the costs and benefits of regulations
that the government has placed on this industry. Many of the burdens on
the nuclear industry are government-created, and so they must be
government-solved. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the
Environment and Public Works Committee to provide sound solutions.
[[Page S1422]]
Congress can't ignore the challenges of the current fleet, but we
must not allow these challenges to keep us from looking forward. The
nuclear power industry in America is, for better or worse, increasingly
paralyzed by government redtape.
Congress must lead in focusing government agencies toward preparing
for the next generation of nuclear reactors. We should create an
environment in which industry can grow and advance. If we don't, we
will lose to foreign competitors as companies take their technologies
and business overseas. This is happening already. Companies are
increasingly going to places like China, Russia, South Korea, and
India. These countries want to export nuclear technology and are
investing heavily toward that goal. If we continue down our current
path, these countries will take the lead in setting the rules on
proliferation and safety in the advanced nuclear industry. I would
prefer that America continue to lead in this area.
The Senate version of NEICA does four very important things to
encourage innovation in advanced nuclear power.
No. 1, it directs the Department of Energy to carry out a modeling
and simulation program that aids in the development of new reactor
technologies.
This is an important first step in allowing the private sector to
have access to the capabilities of our National Laboratories to test
reactor designs and concepts.
No. 2, it requires the Department of Energy to report its plan to
establish a user facility for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron
source.
This is a critical step that will allow private companies the ability
to test principles of nuclear science and prove the science behind
their work.
No. 3, NEICA directs the Department of Energy to carry out a program
to enable the testing and demonstration of reactor concepts proposed
and funded by the private sector.
This site is to be called the National Nuclear Innovation Center, and
it will function as a database to store and share knowledge on nuclear
science between Federal agencies and the private sector. The Senate
version of NEICA encourages the Department of Energy and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to work together in this effort. We would like to
see the Department of Energy lead the effort to establish and operate
the National Nuclear Innovation Center while consulting with the NRC
regarding safety issues. We would also like the NRC to have access to
the work done by the center in order to provide its staff with the
knowledge it will need to eventually license any new reactors coming
out of the center. If these reactors are ever to get to the market, the
NRC must be able to understand the ins and outs of the science and work
behind their development. The NRC needs the data in order to make data-
driven licensing requirements.
No. 4, finally, it requires the NRC to report on its ability to
license advanced reactors within 4 years of receiving an application.
The NRC must explain any institutional or organizational barriers it
faces in moving forward with the licensing of advanced reactors.
NEICA is an important step in maintaining U.S. leadership in nuclear
energy. It will enable the private sector and our National Labs to work
together to create cutting-edge achievements in nuclear science. NEICA
encourages the smartest, most innovative and creative minds in nuclear
science to partner together to move the industry forward. This is a
very exciting piece of legislation, and I look forward to working with
my congressional colleagues to help American nuclear energy thrive
today and prepare for the future.
Thank you.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cotton). The Senator from Rhode Island.
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, it has been the Senator from Idaho
whose leadership has driven this bill forward more than anything else,
and I express my great appreciation to him for the opportunity to work
with him to accomplish this success.
Like Senator Crapo, I want to recognize our colleagues in this
effort, Senators Risch, Booker, Durbin, and Murkowski. I particularly
thank Senator Murkowski because she is the chair of the Senate Energy
Committee, and she and Senator Cantwell together cleared this bill, so
we could bring it to the floor, and gave it the blessing of their
committee.
I also thank Senator Inhofe from Oklahoma, who has been a strong
supporter of our efforts at nuclear modernization, and I ask unanimous
consent that a U.S. News & World Report editorial, which Senator Crapo
wrote with Senator Inhofe, Senator Booker, and me, be printed in the
Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
I thank Senator Alexander from Tennessee--the home of Oak Ridge, the
other National Lab that focuses so much in this area--who has been a
constant advocate and has been very interested in all things nuclear
for a very long time.
This bill, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, has been
so well summarized by Senator Crapo that I will not go back and
resummarize it, but I will emphasize that it is our intention that it
provide an opening for nuclear innovation into next-generation, third-
generation, even fourth-generation nuclear technologies, with the goal
that we can compete effectively internationally to be the producers of
clean and safe nuclear energy, with the hope--and at this point I think
it is somewhere between a hope and a prospect--that this technology
will develop to the point where we can begin to look at our existing
nuclear waste stockpile and use these new technologies to turn
hazardous and dangerous nuclear waste, for which we have no present
plan, into something that is valuable and can help create energy. We
need to work on how to price that because, at present, there is no
mechanism that provides any value to someone who might have a solution
to that problem for lifting this cost off of our books. But that is
something Senator Crapo, Senator Alexander, Senator Inhofe, Senator
Booker, Senator Murkowski, and I can continue to work on. That, I
think, is a really valuable prospect in all of this, and it is one of
the things that moves me to do this.
Let me close by thanking Senator Crapo for also working with me on
NEIMA, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, which we
are still working to get passed but which we hope will get passed. It
parallels very nicely with this legislation because what that would do
is get the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to update its permitting
process to accommodate new technologies.
When I am asked what I mean by that, I use a very rough example,
which is that the current light water reactor permitting process makes
about as much sense as the test for these new technologies as taking a
Tesla and having it pass the DMV carburetor requirements. It is a new
technology; it requires a different testing regime. Our other bill
would authorize and require the NRC to update and work with the
innovation community to make sure that when these things are ready for
permitting, permitting is, in fact, ready for them.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From U.S. News & World Report, July 11, 2016]
The New Nuclear Renaissance
(By Jim Inhofe, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mike Crapo and Cory Booker)
There has been a groundswell of activity and investment in
recent years surrounding advanced nuclear reactors. A dynamic
group of nuclear engineers and scientists are chasing the
future--and racing against China and Russia--to develop
innovative reactor designs. These technologies hold enormous
promise to provide clean, safe, affordable, and reliable
energy, not just for our country, but for the world. These
innovators have a vision for the future, and they charge
ahead backed by more than $1 billion in private capital. The
future of nuclear energy is bright.
Some would argue that we have been here before. In 2005,
Congress passed incentives to encourage a ``nuclear
renaissance'' amid high natural gas prices. The industry
stood ready to build a large number of modern light-water
reactors, improved versions of existing nuclear technology.
But reality fell short of expectations and the result was
only five new nuclear plants, with a price tag of $8 billion
to $10 billion each. Now, in an age of low-cost natural gas,
it is becoming harder for the nearly 100 existing reactors to
compete. The Energy Information Administration calculates
that electricity generation from a new nuclear plant would
cost about 25 percent more than electricity from a new gas-
fired combined-
[[Page S1423]]
cycle power plant. This is causing some nuclear energy
companies to scale back their operations. For instance,
Chicago-based Exelon Corporation announced just a few weeks
ago that it would shutter two of its nuclear plants in
Illinois in the coming years, citing pressure from natural
gas as a major factor.
So this begs the question: Will this new wave of innovative
reactors live up to its promise? Investors think so, and so
do we. For starters, these advanced reactors differ
significantly from their predecessors. Rather than water,
they use materials like molten salt or noble gasses as
coolants. Most are considered ``walk away safe,'' since they
are designed to use the laws of physics, rather than
equipment, to prevent accidents. If a natural disaster
strikes, for instance, these reactors would simply shut down,
substantially reducing the threat of a a meltdown. Many are
designed to be small and modular, so they could be built in
factories with construction costs that are a fraction of
their big, custom-built forerunners. Small reactors could
also be plugged into future micro-grid systems without
requiring extensive transmission infrastructure. Some of
these new reactor technologies could actually help to reduce
the amount of nuclear waste we've accumulated through the
years by using that waste as fuel. That could alleviate a
major challenge facing the industry. And of course, all of
this would be achieved without any air pollution.
Nuclear energy used to be just another partisan issue.
Thankfully, that is changing. The four of us represent
opposite ends of the political spectrum in the Senate, but we
are all pulling in the same direction, backing various pieces
of legislation to promote advanced nuclear innovation and
development. One bill would open the doors of our national
laboratories to entrepreneurs and their innovative new
companies to develop public-private partnerships with the
potential to bring new ideas to market. Another bill looks to
build a sensible regulatory framework to allow diverse
advanced reactor concepts to go from the drawing board to
reality.
These bills have been moving through Congress and are
garnering broad bipartisan support. The Nuclear Energy
Innovation Capabilities Act recently passed the Senate as
part of a bipartisan energy bill, on an 87-4 vote. The
Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act was approved
by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on a 17-
3 vote.
Though we may come to this issue for different reasons, our
end goal is the same. We want to promote new technologies
that provide cleaner energy and get them built by and for
Americans. We can't take a back seat as China and Russia
build test reactors and lure away American innovators. This
new nuclear renaissance is primed for success. It has broad
bipartisan support in Congress, serious private capital
investment and the ability to help address environmental
challenges--all while encouraging American innovation. The
world is heading into a new age of nuclear energy, and the
United States must lead the way.
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, with great appreciation to Senator
Crapo, the distinguished Senator from Idaho who has been my leader and
partner in all this, I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________