ADVANCE Act brings support for development, deployment of nuclear technologies to President Biden

After passing its final vote in the Senate, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act is headed to President Joe Biden for final approval.

The bill ultimately passed as part of the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870) after work by its co-authors U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

“Today, we sent the ADVANCE Act to the president’s desk because Congress worked together to recognize the importance of nuclear energy to America’s future and got the job done,” Capito, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, said. “This bipartisan piece of legislation will encourage more innovation and investment in nuclear technologies right here on our shores. It also directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to more efficiently carry out its important regulatory mission and helps redevelop conventional energy sites for future nuclear energy projects. I’m proud the work we put into this legislation over many years is coming to fruition, and excited to mark a significant achievement for clean, reliable nuclear power.”

ADVANCE approached the issue from several angles:

Empowering the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to lead the development of advanced nuclear reactor regulations at the international level

Pushing the Department of Energy (DOE) to improve its approval process for exporting technology abroad

Aiding development and deployment of new nuclear energy technologies through measures such as cutting regulatory costs for those looking to license advanced nuclear reactor technologies, creating an incentivization prize to deploy next-generation reactors, and altering licensing pathways

Modernizing rules on international investment for nuclear energy

Charging the NRC with improving its ability to qualify and license accident-tolerant and advanced nuclear fuels while also working to evaluate advanced manufacturing techniques for reactors

Improving agency flexibility and structures to increase efficiency and resources available

“In a major victory for our climate and American energy security, the U.S. Senate has passed the ADVANCE Act with overwhelming, bipartisan support,” Carper, EPW chair, said. “For years, I have worked with Senators Capito and Whitehouse on this legislation to accelerate the deployment of our nation’s largest source of carbon-free electricity: nuclear energy. The ADVANCE Act will provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with the tools and workforce it needs to review new nuclear technologies efficiently while maintaining the NRC’s critical safety mission and creating thousands of jobs.”