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President Joe Biden signed the ADVANCE Act, which stands for
Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean
Energy. The act is intended to help speed up the deployment and
licensing of new reactors and fuels. The legislation also
promotes development of small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs.
Supporters said energy demand is expected to grow over the next
decade as electric vehicles, data centers and AI-related
operations all search for a reliable source of power.
The ADVANCE Act also directs the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission to reduce certain licensing application fees and
authorizes increased staffing for NRC reviews to expedite the
process.
Illinois has the largest number of nuclear power reactors in
operation in the country, with 11 nuclear reactors located at
six different nuclear power plants. A recent Illinois law
repealed a nuclear moratorium, which could clear the way for new
nuclear plants in the form of SMRs.
David Kraft, director of the Illinois-based Nuclear Energy
Information Service, said the act provides less regulatory
oversight by ordering the NRC to streamline the licensing
process.
“In science you don’t prejudge the outcome, you gather the data,
you examine it and tear it apart and come up with a conclusion,”
said Kraft. “Here they’re starting the other way around by
saying we’re going to have nuclear power, downplay all the
public outcry if there is any or any kind of negativity that
would cast any doubt on the benefits of nuclear power. That’s
just ridiculous.”
Kraft said the law ignores the potential increased risk and harm
from having more nuclear reactors large and small, and produces
more high-level radioactive waste without first having a
disposal method in place for either current or future reactors.
Another development in this bill is its focus on small reactor
technologies, known as microreactors. These compact reactors
will be small enough to fit on a semi-truck and can be deployed
around the country, including remote locations and military
bases. The ADVANCE Act directs the NRC to develop guidance to
license and regulate microreactor designs within 18 months.
“Nuclear power plays an important role in producing carbon-free
power for our electric grid, and now our nuclear industry will
have the framework it needs to strengthen America’s energy
leadership,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee member
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey.
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