We’re in the middle of the 2022 hurricane season, and Congressman Byron Donalds (R-F.L.) recently introduced important legislation to mobilize nuclear energy to aid disaster relief efforts.
The National Strategy to Utilize Microreactors for Natural Disaster Response Efforts Act seeks to create a collaborative national strategy to utilize clean, reliable, and portable nuclear microreactors—instead of carbon-emitting diesel generators—to assist with natural disaster recovery efforts.
Providing communities with power in the aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes is essential, especially when the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season this year.
NOAA is predicting a range of 14 to 21 named storms this season with three to six major hurricanes. The increased anticipated activity is attributed to several climate factors, including the ongoing La Niña and higher sea surface temperatures.
When these storms strike, relief efforts prioritize providing food, water, shelter and medical services to the affected communities. Electricity is essential to keeping the lights on and providing critical services in temporary shelters, hospitals, health clinics and firehouses—and the sooner that power can be restored to homes, businesses and other locations, the better.
“Nuclear microreactors have the potential to provide long-term, reliable energy generation for areas affected by natural disasters,” said Rep. Doyle (D-P.A.). “That is why this legislation is important, so we can better prepare for faster recoveries for communities being hit by more frequent and stronger storms.”
Microreactor units, which are only about one to 10 megawatts of power, can be transported by truck, ship or military cargo plane during emergencies and are an effective, clean solution to removing the reliance on carbon-emitting diesel generators when disaster strikes. Diesel generators for electricity require costly refills of imported fuel, making them susceptible to supply chain disruptions during and after a hurricane, while microreactors can provide reliable, carbon-free power for several years before refueling.
By providing a reliable source of electricity, these microreactors could allow for more efficient emergency responses, which means communities could recover quicker.
"The ability of microreactors to be transported and provide consistent power will help save lives in the short term, while their carbon-free energy generation will save lives in the long term,” said Doug Bernauer, Chief Executive Officer of Radiant Nuclear.
A mobile microreactor project is currently underway at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) selected BWX Technologies earlier this year to build the first advanced nuclear microreactor in the U.S. The Project Pele full-scale transportable microreactor prototype is on track to be completed and delivered in 2024 for testing at the Idaho National Laboratory. Congressman Donalds’ legislation builds off this strategy to deploy mobile microreactors in new applications.
“Our nation must effectively utilize and optimize the benefits of microreactors,” said Rep. Donalds. “As an emerging energy force, nuclear provides the nation with a rare opportunity to promote bipartisan policies that ensures clean, reliable, and long-lasting American energy independence.”
Nuclear energy aiding disaster relief isn’t new. During extreme weather, the plants we already have stand ready to provide power and help recovery. Without them, disaster relief would be more costly and dangerous. Our reactors adhere to emergency preparedness procedures and have weathered the storm, keeping reliable electricity running when people need it the most, and microreactors are poised to provide reliable, carbon-free electricity to even more applications and areas.
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