On February 24, 2022, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued three unusual decisions pertaining to the agency’s review of subsequent license renewal (SLR) applications. The Commission orders reversed a previous Commission decision—CLI-20-03—pertaining to environmental reviews conducted by the
New Nuclear
Legal and Policy Advancements for Advanced Reactors
The New Nuclear blog, published by Hogan Lovells, focuses on legal and regulatory developments affecting the nuclear energy sector, particularly advanced and existing nuclear reactor technologies. It covers topics such as Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing and environmental reviews, supply chain challenges for nuclear fuel and components, government programs supporting nuclear energy including the Civil Nuclear Credit Program, and issues related to high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel production. The blog also addresses policy and legislative matters impacting nuclear energy deployment, workforce development, and the intersection of nuclear energy with clean energy goals and climate change initiatives.
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DOE Speaks to Supply Chain Issues Affecting the Nuclear Industry
The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) recently completed a report titled “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition” on what it will take to secure the supply chains necessary to support the Nation’s clean…
DOE Implements $6B Civil Nuclear Credit Program set forth in Infrastructure Act for Operating Nuclear Power Plants
On February 11, 2022, Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office Nuclear Energy announced the launch of the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program aimed at preserving the existing U.S. fleet of nuclear power reactors and the low carbon power they…
Correcting the Record
By Amy Roma
In early 2022, blog author Amy Roma spoke with a Bloomberg Law reporter about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Part 53 rulemaking efforts to support advanced reactor licensing. Amy’s position is that the NRC rulemaking process is both unique and…
HALEU Developments: Overview of the Issue, Recent NEI White Paper, and NRC Staff Rulemaking Request
By Amy Roma & Rob Matsick
Those involved with advanced reactors are well aware of the issues associated with high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel: advanced reactors need HALEU to operate, but the U.S. doesn’t have domestic production capabilities to make it. And there’s a “chicken” and…
Proposed Bipartisan “Fission for the Future” Bill would Support Commercial Deployment of Advanced Nuclear in Communities with Retiring Fossil Fuel Sites
By Amy Roma & Rob Matsick
On December 16, 2021, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)—the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively—introduced a bill entitled “Fission for the Future” (the “Bill”). The Bill aims to…
UN Report Trumpets Nuclear as Having the Lowest Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Any Electricity Generation Source, Among Other Environmental Co-Benefits
By Amy Roma & Rob Matsick
The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) recently released a report entitled “Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity Generation Options” (UNECE Report; Report). The Report analyzes the environmental profiles of the full lifecycle of various technologies in order to…
Bill Eyes Eliminating NRC Fees for Advancing Fission and Fusion License
On December 7, 2021, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) and Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) introduced legislation to change the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (“NRC”) fee structure for licensing advanced technology. The legislation, called the “Accelerating Nuclear Innovation through Fee Reform Act,” H.R.…
Proposed Nuclear Energy and Fusion-Related Provisions as part of the “Build Back Better” Agenda
On Friday, November 19, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the President’s roughly $2 trillion budget reconciliation package, voting 220 to 213 in favor of H.R. 5376 the Build Back Better Act (“Reconciliation Bill”), kicking the bill over to…
Summary of Nuclear Energy Provisions in the Infrastructure Bill
On Monday, November 15, 2021, the President signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Infrastructure Bill” or the “Bill”), which contains a number of provisions supporting nuclear energy.
On November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the…