OPINION:
A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.
Energy is a kitchen table issue for American families. We rely on the certainty that we can heat our homes in the freezing cold, turn up the AC in the sweltering heat, plug in our laptops so we can catch up on work, or flip on the lights so we can see our dinner plates in the evening. Nuclear energy helps ensure this quality of life.
As the world recognizes the importance of increased nuclear power, the United States should take the lead and work to preserve our nuclear fleet and advance American nuclear production in the 21st century.
The Atomic Energy Advancement Act is not only a practical, commonsense solution but also a bipartisan one. It will modernize licensing and streamline regulations around nuclear production so that we can continue to make technological advancements that benefit us here at home and our allies abroad.
The act directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to align its expressed mission with the foundational goals of the Atomic Energy Act and improves global nuclear cooperation through enhanced Department of Energy and NRC technical support for U.S. allies while reducing barriers to investment in U.S. projects.
In addition, the bill would require that the NRC conduct efficient, timely and predictable licensing processes while establishing and regularly updating metrics and milestones to measure licensing performance to meet efficiency goals.
According to the Energy Information Administration, global electricity demand is projected to increase by up to 75% by 2050. In the heat of summer or the cold of winter, nuclear energy is a safe, reliable, carbon-free baseload resource that can meet that demand.
The United States has always been at the forefront of clean energy innovation, and it is increasingly clear that we can and should dominate the world’s nuclear energy resurgence, just as we did 40 years ago. More of our constituents recognize that nuclear power is a vital component of a clean energy future, and Congress is in the best position in decades to enact meaningful bipartisan policies to bolster our nuclear dominance and clean energy goals.
In December, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce convened a Republican-led congressional delegation to the U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as the COP, to advocate the above energy solutions. Many are referring to the conference as “the nuclear COP” because, for the first time, nuclear energy took a front seat on the world stage.
As we highlighted at the conference and our country has repeatedly proved throughout history, American innovation is the key to a cleaner future. The same goes for nuclear technology.
Countries in Europe that have banned or decommissioned nuclear plants are feeling the effects and have increasingly relied on dirtier energy sources from other countries to keep the lights on and houses warm. In Germany, for example, the government decided to shut down its nuclear power plants — now, more than 30% of the country’s energy comes from coal. Here at home, Georgia’s Vogtle Plant 3 was the first nuclear reactor to open in the U.S. in three decades — far too long to go without new development.
With continued American development of nuclear technologies and reactors comes increased global influence over the future of clean energy. Advanced nuclear technology — including small modular reactors and microreactors — can potentially revolutionize clean energy supply to communities across the United States, including rural areas, and the world.
While the Atomic Energy Advancement Act would be an enormous leap forward, there is still work to do to increase the acceptance of nuclear power and the advantages it provides for energy security and reliability.
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum polling found that support for nuclear energy increased by 25% among those who live near nuclear power plants. These communities see firsthand how nuclear energy can reduce costs, strengthen grid reliability and create jobs.
The United States currently sources much of our uranium — the most critical element of nuclear fuel production — from other countries. We need to onshore our production and completely cut out Russian uranium to signal to the nuclear industry that the United States can maintain a stable domestic supply chain. Congress can fix the broken permitting system through the Atomic Energy Advancement Act to provide certainty to nuclear energy development and reduce our reliance on foreign countries for baseload generation.
It is increasingly clear the world is hungry for clean and reliable energy. Why wouldn’t we want to develop those technologies in the United States?
The U.S. has harnessed the power of nuclear energy in the past and will continue to do so into the future. We need the bipartisan Atomic Energy Advancement Act to ensure America is leading the world for the coming nuclear resurgence.
The House just passed this pivotal legislation, and it’s time for the Senate to do likewise. With bipartisan support, we can bring about the most significant update to nuclear energy policy in the United States in over a generation and send this bill to the president’s desk.
• Rep. Jeff Duncan represents South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District. Heather Reams is president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.