Senate Shows Bipartisan Support for Nuclear Energy in 2019 Budget

• $1.2 billion for DOE to help support existing fleet, advanced reactors
• House, Senate bills fund R&D on ATF, HALEU
• Both bills include language to ensure NRC efficiency

Congress continues to demonstrate bipartisan support for nuclear energy, with the Senate passing an appropriations bill this week that provides $1.2 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear energy programs. The overwhelming 86-5 vote on a “minibus” spending package, which includes the fiscal 2019 energy and water appropriations bill, comes just over two weeks after the House passed a similar bill that also saw strong funding for nuclear energy.

“I am pleased that the Senate has passed this important legislation, marking the first set of funding bills that represent our renewed framework for success.  These responsible, targeted investments will help advance American energy security,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said June 25.

“This minibus is the result of hard work and compromise on the part of the Chair and Ranking Member of each Subcommittee,” added Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

“In strong bipartisan fashion the United States Senate today authorized more than $1.2 billion in its Energy and Water Development Funding Bill for DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). Earlier this year the House of Representatives approved just over $1.3 billion in funding for the office,” NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick said on the bill’s passage.

The funding levels in both the House and Senate versions remain close to the $1.205 billion that was enacted in the fiscal 2018 omnibus budget package in March, demonstrating that support for advanced nuclear technologies remains steady in both Houses and both parties.

Both the House and Senate provided $75.6 million to fund research on accident tolerant fuel (ATF). A potentially game-changing technology for the industry, ATF would make nuclear plants even safer and more efficient.

DOE’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program ($50 million proposed in the House and $47 million in the Senate) was also funded. The program supports the industry’s effort to extend operating licenses from 60 to 80 years.

Korsnick also praised Congress for funding research and development (R&D) of advanced reactor technologies ($155 million in the House and $150 million in the Senate for advanced reactor technologies).

“The legislation passed today offers significant support for continued development of accident tolerant fuel, advanced reactor technologies, and fuel for advanced reactors. Investment in nuclear energy technologies like this will deliver enormous benefits to our energy system, our environment, our workers and our national security,” she said.

In further support of advanced reactors, both bills include new funding ($20 million in the House and $15 million in the Senate) for the provision of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) sources, which will be necessary for certain advanced reactor designs. HALEU has higher enrichment than the fuel currently used in the U.S. fleet and requires different facilities and licensing to produce.

“The Senate also authorized adequate funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure its oversight of U.S. commercial reactors,” Korsnick said.

“In addition to the funding, both the House and Senate included report language notable for its emphasis on ensuring that NRC operates in the most efficient manner possible.”

Funding for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was included in the House and Senate bills ($966 million proposed by the House—including $47.7 million from the Nuclear Waste Fund to continue adjudication on the Yucca Mountain license application—and $910 million by the Senate).

The Senate bill called for budgeted control points that ensure the commission will spend its budget as directed by the Appropriations Committee. The House commended the NRC on its “Transformation Initiative” to establish a pathway for the efficient regulation of future nuclear technologies, and made clear its expectations to see concrete proposals and cost savings results reflected in the agency’s fiscal 2020 budget request.

Both bills will now go to conference to create a single appropriations package.

“NEI looks forward to continuing to work with the House and Senate as appropriations bills move toward conference,” Korsnick said.

The following chart provides more figures from the House and Senate bills.

DOE-NE Funding
As of June 2018
(in millions of dollars)