On Tuesday, the Senate voted to pass bipartisan legislation that will provide a major boost to the future of nuclear energy in America.

The Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, which the senators introduced in March 2023, passed as part of the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870) by a vote of 88-2 and will now be sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“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,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). “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.”

The ADVANCE Act is said to:

Facilitate American nuclear energy leadership by:

Empowering the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to lead in international forums to develop regulations for advanced nuclear reactors.

Directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to improve its process for approving the export of American technology to international markets while maintaining strong standards for nuclear non-proliferation.

Support the development and deployment of new nuclear energy technologies by:

Reducing regulatory costs for companies seeking to license advanced nuclear reactor technologies.

Creating a prize to incentivize the successful deployment of next-generation reactor technologies.

Requiring the NRC to develop a pathway to enable the timely licensing of microreactors and nuclear facilities at brownfield and retired fossil-fuel energy generation sites.

Directing the NRC to establish an accelerated licensing review process to site and construct reactors at existing nuclear sites.

Preserve existing nuclear energy by:

Modernizing outdated rules that restrict international investment.

Strengthen America’s nuclear energy fuel cycle and supply chain infrastructure by:

Directing the NRC to enhance its ability to qualify and license accident-tolerant fuels and advanced nuclear fuels that can increase safety and economic competitiveness for existing reactors and the next generation of advanced reactors.

Tasking the NRC to evaluate advanced manufacturing techniques to build nuclear reactors better, faster, cheaper, and smarter.

Improve Commission Resources and Efficiency by:

Providing flexibility for the NRC to better manage and invest its resources in activities that support NRC’s modernization efforts and address staffing issues.

Providing the NRC Chair the tools to hire and retain exceptionally well-qualified individuals to successfully and safely review and process applications for advanced nuclear reactor licenses.

Requiring the NRC to update its Mission Statement to reflect the modern beneficial use of nuclear material and energy.

Mandating the NRC to establish a licensing structure to support an efficient, timely, and predictable regulatory review.

Charging the NRC to streamline the NEPA environmental review process.

To read the full text of the ADVANCE Act, click here.