[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3358 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3358
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of
Energy to carry out demonstration projects relating to advanced nuclear
reactor technologies to support domestic energy needs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 19, 2019
Mr. Higgins of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of
Energy to carry out demonstration projects relating to advanced nuclear
reactor technologies to support domestic energy needs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies
Act''.
SEC. 2. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
(a) In General.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 959A. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term `advanced nuclear
reactor' means a--
``(A) nuclear fission or fusion reactor, including
a prototype plant (as defined in sections 50.2 and 52.1
of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations)), with significant improvements compared
to commercial nuclear reactors under construction as of
the date of enactment of this section, including
improvements such as--
``(i) additional inherent safety features;
``(ii) lower waste yields;
``(iii) improved fuel performance;
``(iv) increased tolerance to loss of fuel
cooling;
``(v) enhanced reliability;
``(vi) increased proliferation resistance;
``(vii) increased thermal efficiency;
``(viii) reduced consumption of cooling
water;
``(ix) the ability to integrate into
electric applications and nonelectric
applications;
``(x) modular sizes to allow for deployment
that corresponds with the demand for
electricity; or
``(xi) operational flexibility to respond
to changes in demand for electricity and to
complement integration with intermittent
renewable energy; and
``(B) a fusion reactor.
``(2) Demonstration project.--The term `demonstration
project' means an advanced nuclear reactor operated--
``(A) as part of the power generation facilities of
an electric utility system; or
``(B) in any other manner for the purpose of
demonstrating the suitability for commercial
application of the advanced nuclear reactor.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to direct the
Secretary, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this
section, to advance the research and development of domestic advanced,
affordable, and clean nuclear energy by--
``(1) demonstrating different advanced nuclear reactor
technologies that could be used by the private sector to
produce--
``(A) emission-free power at a cost of $60 per mWh
or less;
``(B) heat for community heating, industrial
purposes, or synthetic fuel production;
``(C) remote or off-grid energy supply; or
``(D) backup or mission-critical power supplies;
``(2) developing subgoals for nuclear energy research
programs that would accomplish the goals of the demonstration
projects carried out under subsection (c);
``(3) identifying research areas that the private sector is
unable or unwilling to undertake due to the cost of, or risks
associated with, the research; and
``(4) facilitating the access of the private sector--
``(A) to Federal research facilities and personnel;
and
``(B) to the results of research relating to civil
nuclear technology funded by the Federal Government.
``(c) Demonstration Projects.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum
extent practicable--
``(A) complete not fewer than 2 advanced nuclear
reactor demonstration projects by not later than
December 31, 2025; and
``(B) establish a program to demonstrate not fewer
than 2, and not more than 4 additional operational
advanced reactor designs by not later than December 31,
2035.
``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out demonstration projects
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
``(A) include diversity in designs for the advanced
nuclear reactors demonstrated under this section,
including designs using various--
``(i) primary coolants;
``(ii) fuel types and compositions; and
``(iii) neutron spectra;
``(B) seek to ensure that--
``(i) the long-term cost of electricity or
heat for each design to be demonstrated under
this subsection is cost-competitive in the
applicable market; and
``(ii) selected projects can meet the
deadline established in paragraph (1) to
demonstrate first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear
reactor technologies, for which additional
information shall be considered, including--
``(I) the technology readiness
level of a proposed advanced nuclear
reactor technology;
``(II) the technical abilities and
qualifications of a team desiring to
partner with the Department to
demonstrate a proposed advanced nuclear
reactor technology; and
``(III) the capacity to meet cost-
share requirements of the Department;
``(C) ensure that each evaluation of candidate
technologies for the demonstration project is completed
through an external review of the proposed design,
which shall be conducted by a panel that includes not
fewer than 1 representative of each of--
``(i) an electric utility relevant to the
intended initial deployment market;
``(ii) the local government of the intended
initial deployment market; and
``(iii) an entity that uses high-
temperature process heat for manufacturing or
industrial processing, such as a petrochemical
company, a manufacturer of metals, or a
manufacturer of concrete, if applicable;
``(D) when applicable, enter into cost-sharing
agreements with partners in accordance with section 988
for the conduct of activities relating to the research,
development, and demonstration of private sector
advanced nuclear reactor designs under the program;
``(E) work with private sector partners to identify
potential sites, including Department owned sites, for
demonstrations, as appropriate; and
``(F) align specific activities carried out under
demonstration projects carried out under this
subsection with priorities identified through direct
consultations between--
``(i) the Department;
``(ii) the National Laboratories;
``(iii) institutions of higher education;
``(iv) traditional end-users (such as
electric utilities);
``(v) potential end-users of new
technologies (such as users of high-temperature
process heat for manufacturing processing,
including petrochemical companies,
manufacturers of metals, or manufacturers of
concrete); and
``(vi) developers of advanced nuclear
reactor technology.
``(3) Additional requirements.--In carrying out
demonstration projects under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
``(A) identify candidate technologies that--
``(i) are not developed sufficiently for
demonstration within the initial required
timeframe described in paragraph (1)(A); but
``(ii) could be demonstrated within the
timeframe described in paragraph (1)(B);
``(B) identify technical challenges to the
candidate technologies identified in subparagraph (A);
``(C) support near-term research and development to
address the highest risk technical challenges to the
successful demonstration of a selected advanced reactor
technology, in accordance with--
``(i) subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) the research and development
activities under section 958; and
``(D) establish such technology advisory working
groups as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to
advise the Secretary regarding the technical challenges
identified under subparagraph (B) and the scope of
research and development programs to address the
challenges, in accordance with subparagraph (C), to be
comprised of--
``(i) private sector advanced nuclear
reactor technology developers;
``(ii) technical experts with respect to
the relevant technologies at institutions of
higher education; and
``(iii) technical experts at the National
Laboratories.
``(d) Goals.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish goals for
research relating to advanced nuclear reactors facilitated by
the Department that support the objectives of the program for
demonstration projects established under subsection (c).
``(2) Coordination.--In developing the goals under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate, on an ongoing
basis, with members of private industry to advance the
demonstration of various designs of advanced nuclear reactors.
``(3) Requirements.--In developing the goals under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that--
``(A) research activities facilitated by the
Department to meet the goals developed under this
subsection are focused on key areas of nuclear research
and deployment ranging from basic science to full-
design development, safety evaluation, and licensing;
``(B) research programs designed to meet the goals
emphasize--
``(i) resolving materials challenges
relating to extreme environments, including
extremely high levels of--
``(I) radiation fluence;
``(II) temperature;
``(III) pressure; and
``(IV) corrosion; and
``(ii) qualification of advanced fuels;
``(C) activities are carried out that address near-
term challenges in modeling and simulation to enable
accelerated design and licensing;
``(D) related technologies, such as technologies to
manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear waste, are developed;
``(E) nuclear research infrastructure is maintained
or constructed, such as--
``(i) currently operational research
reactors at the National Laboratories and
institutions of higher education;
``(ii) hot cell research facilities;
``(iii) a versatile fast neutron source;
and
``(iv) a molten salt testing facility;
``(F) basic knowledge of nonlight water coolant
physics and chemistry is improved;
``(G) advanced sensors and control systems are
developed; and
``(H) advanced manufacturing and advanced
construction techniques and materials are investigated
to reduce the cost of advanced nuclear reactors.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 594) is amended--
(1) in the item relating to section 917, by striking
``Efficiency'';
(2) by amending the items relating to sections 957, 958,
and 959 to read as follows:
``Sec. 957. High-performance computation and supportive research.
``Sec. 958. Enabling nuclear energy innovation.
``Sec. 959. Budget plan.'';
and
(3) by inserting after the item relating to section 959 the
following:
``Sec. 959A. Advanced nuclear reactor research and development
goals.''.
SEC. 3. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.
(a) In General.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) (as amended by section 2(a)) is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 959B. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on
Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a 10-year strategic plan for the Office of Nuclear
Energy of the Department, in accordance with this section.
``(b) Requirements.--
``(1) Components.--The strategic plan under this section
shall designate--
``(A) programs that support the planned
accomplishment of--
``(i) the goals established under section
959A; and
``(ii) the demonstration programs
identified under subsection (c) of that
section; and
``(B) programs that--
``(i) do not support the planned
accomplishment of demonstration programs, or
the goals, referred to in subparagraph (A); but
``(ii) are important to the mission of the
Office of Nuclear Energy, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(2) Program planning.--In developing the strategic plan
under this section, the Secretary shall specify expected
timelines for, as applicable--
``(A) the accomplishment of relevant objectives
under current programs of the Department; or
``(B) the commencement of new programs to
accomplish those objectives.
``(c) Updates.--Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an updated 10-
year strategic plan in accordance with subsection (b), which shall
identify, and provide a justification for, any major deviation from a
previous strategic plan submitted under this section.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 594) is further amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 959A the following:
``Sec. 959B. Nuclear energy strategic plan.''.
<all>
Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies Act
#3358 | HR Congress #116
Policy Area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovationsAdvisory bodiesAlternative and renewable resourcesCongressional oversightEnergy pricesEnergy researchEnergy storage, supplies, demandMaterialsNuclear powerPublic utilities and utility ratesPublic-private cooperationRadiationResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentTechnology transfer and commercialization
Last Action: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. (6/19/2019)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text