Congress Moves to Advance Nuclear Energy

The ADVANCE Act recently powered through the U.S. Senate and is now on the president’s desk. This bill, which is intended to improve and streamline advanced nuclear power plant construction, had almost unanimous support, passing the Senate with a resounding vote of 88–2. If we want to strengthen our grid, meet the growing demand for power, and keep our air clean, nuclear has to be a big part of our energy plan.

You can read my past thoughts on the bill here and here.

Here is a summary of the policy changes in the ADVANCE Act:

1. Narrows which regulatory costs nuclear energy licensees have to pay (read more here).
2. Establishes an award program for pioneers in the advanced nuclear industry.
3. Streamlines the process to convert “covered sites” (land formerly used for coal plants, factories, etc.,) into nuclear reactor sites.
4. Mandates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to expedite the “combined license” process for applicants building at a site where a nuclear plant currently operates or has previously operated.
5. Seeks to increase manpower at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
6. Updates the mission statement of the NRC to be more supportive of nuclear energy.

While the federal government got something done, Missouri missed an opportunity this past session to repeal its own burdensome anti-nuclear regulations. One particular letdown was the failure to revise the construction-works-in-progress (CWIP) law. You can read specifics on that policy here.

In 2022, Ameren Missouri (the state’s primary utility) relied on coal for 66 percent of its electricity generation. By 2045, Ameren plans to bring that number to zero. Missouri could mimic Wyoming and turn one of these soon to be “covered” sites into an advanced nuclear reactor site. The ADVANCE Act, if signed, will expedite this process in the future—just in time for our energy transition.

Additionally, there have past efforts to add another unit to the Callaway Nuclear plant, Missouri’s one and only commercial nuclear reactor. The ADVANCE Act would allow “combined licenses” mentioned above, which would make more units at the Callaway Plant eligible for a faster review.

Isn’t it time to pass nuclear reform in Missouri? The federal government has made its move—now it’s Missouri’s turn to repeal anti-nuclear regulations such as the CWIP law and perhaps form a Missouri Nuclear Energy Advisory Council (similar to Tennessee’s). Missouri leaders ought to ensure nothing stands in the way of strengthening our grid with clean, reliable, and powerful nuclear energy.