Congress passes bill to accelerate advanced nuclear projects

Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, said the reforms are badly needed and testified in favor of the bill, which included components of some financial provisions he authored.

“The Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act would authorize the secretary of energy to make targeted awards to cover fees assessed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for first technologies that are licensed and made operational in five unique categories. Awards under the bill cannot exceed total amounts expended by the eligible entity excluding other federal support,” he said.

Curtis added in a release that, “The costs and red tape associated with our permitting process are proving to be duplicative and ineffective. We need innovation in the nuclear space to ensure affordable, reliable and clean energy in our future and Congress must do more to ensure that can happen.”