Senate Set to Approve Legislation for Advancing Nuclear Power

A bipartisan energy bill that could result in the construction of more nuclear power plants across the U.S. is expected to be approved by the Senate and sent to President Joe Biden this week, according to a report from The Hill.

The proposed legislation aims to lower the costs of building nuclear plants.

The bill would decrease fees for companies proposing to build nuclear reactors.

It also aims to expedite the approval process for reactors by setting a 25-month timeline for approval and an 18-month timeline for environmental review, as noted by The Hill.

The House gave overwhelming approval to the bill in May, and now many expect the Senate to follow suit this week.

However, some have expressed concerns, particularly about a provision that would expand the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s mission to ensure that regulation does not unnecessarily restrict the use of radioactive materials for nuclear energy.

“I just see this as inviting the industry to challenge every decision that the commission makes, potentially hindering its ability to improve nuclear safety and security,” said Edwin Lyman, nuclear power safety director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, to The Hill.

There has been no immediate response from the White House regarding Biden’s stance on the bill.

It is unlikely that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would bring a bill to the floor that Biden opposes, as noted by The Hill.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, emphasized that “nuclear has benefits beyond climate” and has garnered bipartisan support, according to CBS News.

Gates pointed out that Democrats see the value in clean energy, while Republicans are interested in energy security.

“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,” Gates stated on “Face the Nation” on Sunday.