Dr. Conca reports that the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment passed draft nuclear waste legislation, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017. The bill would be the first changes in 30 years to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 since its 1987 Amendment that codified into law the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada. But lots of activity led up to that point. First off, on Monday of last week, Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky announced he was signing a bill, SB11, to lift the nuclear moratorium in the state, clearing the way for possible nuclear reactor construction and associated technologies in the State of Kentucky. At almost the same time, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced his support for creating temporary used nuclear fuel storage facilities that will help secure a brighter future for nuclear energy.
A contract between the Energy Department and a private storage facility will present the quickest, and probably the least expensive, way for the federal government to start to meet its used nuclear fuel obligations, said Alexander. The next day, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, urged his fellow members for a quick vote on three nominees to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in order to allow the regulatory group to maintain its quorum and get to the essential work of moving nuclear forward. In the middle of the week, the Energy Department announced it will invest over $66 million in advanced nuclear energy projects. The awards will help support 85 projects, including 32 led by Universities. Later that day, the House Ways and Means Committee passed legislation that removes the 2020 deadline for a clean energy production tax credit allowing new nuclear energy facilities completed after 2020 to be eligible for the credit.
Original URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2017/06/19/small-legislative-steps-for-nuclear-energy/#3ff31a037ac9
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