Bipartisan ADVANCE Act boosts responsible production of clean nuclear energy globally by developing and deploying new nuclear technologies
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act – bipartisan legislation backed by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema. The ADVANCE Act strengthens America’s global leadership in clean, reliable nuclear energy by investing in cutting-edge nuclear technologies worldwide and improving nuclear infrastructure and supply chains.
“Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation helps create a healthier, safer energy future by boosting innovative nuclear technologies that advance the reliable production of nuclear energy,” said Sinema.
The Sinema-backed legislation enjoys broad bipartisan support, cosponsored by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
The ADVANCE Act solidifies America’s leadership on nuclear energy by empowering the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to lead in international forums to develop regulations for advanced nuclear reactors and establishing a joint Commerce Department and Energy Department initiative to facilitate outreach to nations that are seeking to develop advanced nuclear energy programs. The bill identifies modern manufacturing techniques to build nuclear reactors better, faster, cheaper, and smarter.
The bipartisan legislation focuses on developing and deploying new nuclear technologies by reducing regulatory costs for companies seeking to license advanced nuclear reactor technologies, as well as creating a prize to incentivize the successful deployment of next-generation nuclear reactor technologies. The ADVANCE Act additionally requires the NRC to develop a pathway to enable the timely licensing of nuclear facilities at brownfield sites.
Recognizing the need to promote a healthy environment while advancing global nuclear energy production, the Sinema-backed bill authorizes funding to assist in cleaning up legacy abandoned mining sites on Tribal lands.
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