Report: Senate Will Approve Legislation to Increase Nuclear Power Use

A bipartisan energy bill that may result in an increase in nuclear power plant construction across the United States is set to be approved by the Senate and sent to President Joe Biden this week, as reported by The Hill.

The proposed bill aims to make the building of nuclear plants more affordable by reducing fees for companies proposing to construct reactors.

It also seeks to streamline the approval process for reactors by setting a 25-month timeline for approval and an 18-month timeline for environmental review, according to The Hill.

The bill received strong approval from the House in May, and many expect it to pass the Senate this week.

However, some are concerned about a provision in the bill that would expand the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s mission to ensure its regulations do not unnecessarily restrict the use of radioactive materials in nuclear energy, as expressed by Edwin Lyman, nuclear power safety director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, speaking to The Hill.

The White House has not yet commented on whether Biden supports the bill, but it is unlikely that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would bring a bill to the floor that is opposed by the President.

Bill Gates has emphasized the non-climate related benefits of nuclear power, which has garnered bipartisan support, according to CBS News.

Gates noted that Democrats appreciate the clean energy aspect of nuclear power, while Republicans value the energy security it provides.

In an interview on “Face the Nation,” Gates stated, “Of all the climate-related work I’m doing, I’d say the one that has the most bipartisan energy behind it is actually this nuclear work.”