DOE's Nuclear Fuel Working Group just released its report. The Panel concluded that nuclear power used to generate electricity in the U.S. is intrinsically tied to national security.
- America has lost its competitive global position as the world leader in nuclear energy used to generate electricity to state-owned enterprises, notably Russia and China, with other competitor nations also aggressively moving to surpass the United States (U.S.). After decades of neglect, the entire U.S. commercial nuclear sector, from mining through power generation, is at high-risk of insolvency. America is on the brink of losing its ability to produce US-origin nuclear fuel, threatening our national interest and national security.
- The Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership is designed to restore America’s competitive nuclear advantages.
It is in the U.S. national security interest to preserve and grow the assets and investments of the entire U.S. nuclear enterprise. We can do so by addressing domestic and international security interests, expanding nuclear generation, minimizing commercial fleet fiscal vulnerabilities, assuring defense needs for uranium, and leveling the playing field against state-owned enterprises.
First, the U.S. Government will take bold action to revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry, support uranium conversion services, end reliance on foreign uranium enrichment capabilities, and sustain the current fleet, removing strategic vulnerabilities across the nuclear fuel cycle and restoring a world-class workforce to provide benefits to the U.S. and to compete in the international market.
Next, the U.S. Government will leverage American technological innovation and advanced nuclear Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) investments to accelerate technical advances and regain American nuclear energy leadership.
Finally, the U.S. Government will move into markets currently dominated by Russian and Chinese State Owned Enterprises (SOE) and recover our position as the world leader in exporting best-in-class nuclear energy technology, and with it, strong non-proliferation standards. We will restore American nuclear credibility and demonstrate American commitment to competing in contested markets and repositioning America as the responsible nuclear energy partner of choice.
The Nuclear Fuel Working Group recognizes the importance of taking focused, deliberate action to prevent the near-term collapse of the domestic uranium mining, milling, and conversion industries and the need to support US strategic fuel cycle capabilities. This strategy includes concrete actions that the Administration has already taken through its Fiscal Year 2021 Budget that demonstrate its commitment to these principles as well as recommendations for additional action that can be used by the Administration to inform future policy decisions. Any recommendations in this strategy beyond those already reflected in the President’s Budget will be subject to relevant budgetary, regulatory, and policy development processes before adoption or execution. Given the dynamic nature of the challenges facing the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the Administration will continue to monitor market conditions and track progress. The NFWG supports implementation of focused, carefully executed policy measures that achieve the Administrations goals and ensure deployment of the most effective and efficient solutions.
Congress has provided broad bipartisan and bicameral support for U.S. nuclear energy.
It is within our power to pull America’s nuclear industrial base back from the brink of collapse and restore our place as the global leader in nuclear technology – ensuring a strong national security position and buttressing our economic strength for generations to come.
SUMMARY OF MEASURES:
• Directly purchase uranium by establishing a Uranium Reserve,
• End DOE’s bartering of uranium and reevaluate DOE’s Excess Uranium Inventory Management Policy,
• Create a level playing field for all energy sources in power markets and encourage FERC action to improve competition in the wholesale energy markets,
• Streamline regulatory reform and land access for uranium extraction,
• Support Department of Commerce efforts to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement to protect against future uranium dumping in the U.S. market,
• Enable NRC to deny imports of nuclear fuel fabricated in Russia or China for national security purposes,
• Fund R&D for Accident Tolerant Fuels, fund R&D for High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), complete HALEU enrichment demonstration program, and fund advanced water treatment technology for uranium mining and in-situ recovery,
• Support the National Reactor Innovation Center and Versatile Test Reactor,
• Fund R&D and support demonstration of U.S. advanced nuclear reactor technology,
• Demonstrate the Use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors to power federal facilities,
• Designate a senior Administration position dedicated to leading nuclear export coordination and implementation,
• Establish a Nuclear Industrial Base structure analogous to the Defense Industrial Base,
• Fund the R&D for domestic commercial fuel replacements for international sale for use in foreign-origin reactors, including Accident Tolerant Fuel,
• Increase efficiencies in the export processes and the adoption of 123 Agreements to open new markets for exports of U.S. civil nuclear technologies, materials, and fuel,
• Add civil nuclear to the annual Select-USA Investment Summit,
• Expand civil nuclear international cooperation programs, including regulatory technical exchanges and assisting in the development of foreign nuclear regulatory frameworks to accelerate foreign licensing of U.S. nuclear technologies with existing NRC licenses,
• Ensure U.S. financing institutions support civil nuclear industry to compete against foreign state financing, and
• Promote the reentry of U.S. vendors into the research reactor supply market.
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