The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2017 (HR 590). The bill is intended to “foster civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies,” enhance their licensing and commercial deployment, and have the DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) collaborate in their licensing.
HR 590 is not the only legislation going through the new 115th Congress in support of advanced nuclear technologies. Rep. Randy Weber’s (R-Texas) Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA) (HR 431) was included in legislation that also recently passed unanimously in the House. The Senate meanwhile took swift action to introduce the companion bill to NEICA, S 97.
These new types of reactors have been garnering attention since well before the beginning of the year, when the NRC was first asked to certify the design by a small reactor developer.
For more information, visit www.nei. org or call (202) 739-8000.