Fusion holds the potential to revolutionize energy generation around the globe, and innovators in the private sector have been working hard to make this potential a reality. Public-private partnerships to develop and deploy this critical technology will be instrumental to its long-term success. To this end, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring cost-sharing
DOE
Thanksgiving Reading – Fall Advanced Reactor Developments
In time for the Thanksgiving long weekend, we want to draw your attention to a number of interesting reports on advanced reactor developments that have come out over the past couple months:
- Most recently, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) issued a thoughtful white paper on regulatory and licensing issues for micro-reactors, in advance of the
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NRC Considers GEIS for Advanced Reactors – Your Input Needed!
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held two public meetings on November 15th and 20th to solicit feedback as to whether to compile a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for the construction and operation of advanced reactors. GEISs have the potential to materially reduce the licensing burden on NRC advanced reactor applicants, given that…
Nuclear Reading to Kick Off the New Year
Happy New Year! As we start off 2019, we want to motive the nuclear community by sharing a few legal updates and popular reports that have come out around the end of the last year.
- Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (S.512, NEIMA): On December 21, Congress adopted NEIMA, legislation that addresses NRC licensing
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US Government Clamps Down on Nuclear Exports to China
In a development that could cause every advanced reactor startup to reexamine its growth strategy, the US government (USG) yesterday afternoon issued a new framework concerning exports to China, which largely closes the export market to advanced reactor companies.
The framework document, which is available here and was described to a limited audience in a…
Significant Legislative Activity Impacting Advanced Nuclear
Recently, the Hill has been taking a flurry of legislative actions that impact the advanced reactor community across all spectra. We provide a summary of some of the major bills going through Congress below, including a couple which have recently become law or may become so soon.
Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA) (S. 97).…
A Word to the Wise for Advanced Reactors Accepting DOE Money: DOE Enforces its IP Rights
A recent headline in the energy trade press would not likely have caught the attention of the advanced nuclear industry: “Trump’s DOE punishes Obama-era solar success story.” A casual reader might quickly dismiss the story as indicative of a Trump Administration bias against renewable energy. The details reported in the story, however, convey a far…
Nuclear Power Saves the Day in ‘Madam Secretary’, Highlighting Strong Week for Nuclear Innovation
On Sunday, the popular TV show Madam Secretary gave a starring role to the climate and security benefits of nuclear power. The episode, titled “Thin Ice,” which is still available on the CBS website, proffered a full-throated defense of the climate benefits of nuclear power, turned a grassroots activist organization into a supporter of…
DOE Moves Forward on Advanced Reactor Funding & Collaboration
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) this week announced the award of approximately $60 million to 13 advanced reactor projects—the first under the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) “U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development.” The 13 projects cover a diversity of steps in the commercialization process:
- 4 concern modeling and development pathways;
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March Starts Off Strong for Nuclear Innovation in the U.S. Capital
The start of the month has proven to be an exciting one for nuclear innovation in D.C. A number of legal and regulatory activities have taken place which have implications for the next-generation nuclear industry, just a few of which are noted below. (And for those at the ARPA-E conference, see our blog author Amy…