I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8355 
To establish and support advanced nuclear energy research and development 
programs at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 
Mr. FULCHER (for himself and Mr. SIMPSON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To establish and support advanced nuclear energy research 
and development programs at the Department of Energy, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Next Generation Nuclear Advancement Act of 2020’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Integrated energy systems program. 
Sec. 3. Report on duplicative programs. 
Sec. 4. Light water reactor sustainability program. 
Sec. 5. Nuclear energy strategic plan. 
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SEC. 2. INTEGRATED ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the Integrated Energy Systems Program established 
under subsection (b)(1). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program, to be known as the ‘‘Integrated Energy 
Systems Program’’— 
(A) to maximize energy production and ef-
ficiency; 
(B) to develop energy systems involving 
the integration of nuclear energy with renew-
able energy, fossil energy, and energy storage; 
and 
(C) to expand the use of emissions-reduc-
ing energy technologies into nonelectric sectors 
to achieve significant reductions in environ-
mental emissions. 
(2) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION; PARTNERS.— 
The program shall be carried out by the Undersecre-
tary of Energy, in partnership with— 
(A) relevant offices within the Department 
of Energy; 
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(B) National Laboratories; 
(C) institutions of higher education; and 
(D) the private sector. 
(3) GOALS AND MILESTONES.—The Secretary 
shall establish quantitative goals and milestones for 
the program. 
(c) RESEARCH AREAS.—Research areas under the 
program may include— 
(1) technology innovation to further the expan-
sion of emissions-reducing energy technologies to ac-
commodate a modern, resilient grid system by— 
(A) effectively leveraging multiple energy 
sources; 
(B) enhancing and streamlining engineer-
ing design; 
(C) carrying out process demonstrations to 
optimize performance; and 
(D) streamlining regulatory review; 
(2) advanced power cycles, energy extraction, 
and processing of complex hydrocarbons to produce 
high-value chemicals; 
(3) efficient use of emissions-reducing energy 
technologies for hydrogen production to support 
transportation and industrial needs; 
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(4) enhancement and acceleration of domestic 
manufacturing and desalinization technologies and 
processes by optimally using clean energy sources; 
(5) more effective thermal energy use, trans-
port, and storage; 
(6) the demonstration of nuclear energy deliv-
ery for— 
(A) the production of chemicals, metals, 
and fuels; 
(B) the capture, use, and storage of car-
bon; 
(C) renewable integration with an inte-
grated energy system; and 
(D) conversion of carbon feedstock, such 
as coal, biomass, natural gas, and refuse waste, 
to higher value nonelectric commodities; 
(7) the development of new analysis capabilities 
to identify the best ways— 
(A) to leverage multiple energy sources in 
a given region; and 
(B) to quantify the benefits of integrated 
energy systems; and 
(8) any other area that, as determined by the 
Secretary, meets the purpose and goals of the pro-
gram. 
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(d) GRANTS.—The Secretary may award grants 
under the program to support the goals of the program. 
SEC. 3. REPORT ON DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report identifying any program that 
is duplicative of the program established under section 
2(b)(1). 
SEC. 4. LIGHT WATER REACTOR SUSTAINABILITY PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16272) is amended by striking subsection (b) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) LIGHT WATER REACTOR SUSTAINABILITY PRO-
GRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out a light water reac-
tor sustainability program— 
‘‘(1) to ensure the achievement of maximum 
benefits from existing nuclear generation; 
‘‘(2) to accommodate the increase in applica-
tions for nuclear power plant license renewals ex-
pected as of the date of enactment of this sub-
section; 
‘‘(3) to enable the continued operation of exist-
ing nuclear power plants through technology devel-
opment; 
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‘‘(4) to improve the performance and reduce the 
operation and maintenance costs of nuclear power 
plants; 
‘‘(5) to promote the use of high-performance 
computing to simulate nuclear reactor processes; 
‘‘(6) to coordinate with other research and de-
velopment programs of the Office of Nuclear Energy 
to ensure that developed technologies and capabili-
ties are part of an integrated investment strategy, 
the overall focus of which is improving the safety, 
security, reliability, and economics of operating nu-
clear power plants; and 
‘‘(7) to focus on— 
‘‘(A) new capabilities relating to nuclear 
energy research and development; 
‘‘(B) enabling technologies beyond indi-
vidual programs; 
‘‘(C) coordinating capabilities among the 
research and development programs of the Of-
fice of Nuclear Energy; 
‘‘(D) examining new classes of materials 
not considered for nuclear applications; 
‘‘(E) high-risk research, which could poten-
tially overcome technological limitations; and 
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‘‘(F) the potential for industry partner-
ships to develop technologies relating to stor-
age, hydrogen production, high-temperature 
process heat, and other relevant areas.’’. 
SEC. 5. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title IX of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 959A. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, 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 Rep-
resentatives a 10-year strategic plan for the Office of Nu-
clear Energy of the Department, in accordance with this 
section. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the strategic 
plan under this section, the Secretary shall specify ex-
pected timelines for, as applicable— 
‘‘(1) the accomplishment of relevant objectives 
under current programs of the Department; or 
‘‘(2) the commencement of new programs to ac-
complish those objectives. 
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‘‘(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 up-
dated 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 sub-
mitted under this section.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—Section 1(b) of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 note) is amend-
ed in the table of contents by inserting after the item re-
lating to section 959 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 959A. Nuclear energy strategic plan.’’. 
Æ 
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