I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8296 
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 17, 2020 
Mr. GALLAGHER 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nuclear Energy Reac-
tor Demonstration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Advanced nuclear reactor research and development goals. 
Sec. 4. Advanced fuels development. 
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SEC. 3. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT GOALS. 
(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. 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 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 im-
provements compared to the most recent gen-
eration of fission reactors, including improve-
ments such as— 
‘‘(i) additional inherent safety fea-
tures; 
‘‘(ii) lower waste yields; 
‘‘(iii) improved fuel performance; 
‘‘(iv) increased tolerance to loss of 
fuel cooling; 
‘‘(v) enhanced reliability; 
‘‘(vi) increased proliferation resist-
ance; 
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‘‘(vii) increased thermal efficiency; 
‘‘(viii) reduced consumption of cooling 
water; 
‘‘(ix) the ability to integrate into elec-
tric applications and nonelectric applica-
tions; 
‘‘(x) modular sizes to allow for deploy-
ment 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— 
‘‘(A) an advanced nuclear reactor oper-
ated— 
‘‘(i) as part of the power generation 
facilities of an electric utility system; or 
‘‘(ii) in any other manner for the pur-
pose of demonstrating the suitability for 
commercial application of the advanced nu-
clear reactor; 
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‘‘(B) the demonstration of privately funded 
experimental advanced nuclear reactors, funded 
in whole or in part by the private sector, at Na-
tional Laboratories or other sites owned by the 
Department of Energy; and 
‘‘(C) an advanced nuclear reactor dem-
onstrated by the Secretary of Defense in co-
operation with the Secretary of Energy. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to di-
rect 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 pri-
vate sector to produce— 
‘‘(A) emission-free power at a levelized cost 
of electricity of $60 per megawatt-hour or less; 
‘‘(B) heat for community heating, indus-
trial purposes, or synthetic fuel production; 
‘‘(C) remote or off-grid energy supply; or 
‘‘(D) backup or mission-critical power sup-
plies; 
‘‘(2) developing subgoals for nuclear energy re-
search programs that would accomplish the goals of 
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the demonstration projects carried out under sub-
section (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 sec-
tor— 
‘‘(A) to Federal research facilities and per-
sonnel; 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) enter into agreements to complete not 
fewer than two demonstration projects by not 
later than December 31, 2025; and 
‘‘(B) establish a program to enter into 
agreements to demonstrate not fewer than two, 
and not more than five, additional operational 
advanced reactor designs by not later than De-
cember 31, 2035. 
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‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out dem-
onstration projects under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary 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) the selected projects can meet 
the deadline established in paragraph (1) 
to demonstrate first-of-a-kind advanced 
nuclear reactor technologies, for which ad-
ditional information shall be considered, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(I) the technology readiness 
level of a proposed advanced nuclear 
reactor technology; 
‘‘(II) the technical abilities and 
qualifications of teams desiring to 
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demonstrate a proposed advanced nu-
clear reactor technology; and 
‘‘(III) the capacity to meet cost- 
share requirements of the Depart-
ment; 
‘‘(C) ensure that each evaluation of can-
didate technologies for the demonstration 
projects is completed through an external re-
view of proposed designs, which review shall— 
‘‘(i) be conducted by a panel that in-
cludes not fewer than 1 representative of 
each of— 
‘‘(I) an electric utility; and 
‘‘(II) an entity that uses high- 
temperature process heat for manu-
facturing or industrial processing, 
such as a petrochemical company, a 
manufacturer of metals, or a manu-
facturer of concrete; 
‘‘(ii) include a review of cost-competi-
tiveness and other value streams, together 
with the technology readiness level, of each 
design to be demonstrated under this sub-
section; and 
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‘‘(iii) not be required for a demonstra-
tion project that is not federally funded; 
‘‘(D) for federally funded demonstration 
projects, enter into cost-sharing agreements 
with private sector partners in accordance with 
section 988 for the conduct of activities relating 
to the research, development, and demonstra-
tion 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; 
‘‘(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) relevant Federal agencies as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) National Laboratories; 
‘‘(iv) institutions of higher education; 
‘‘(v) traditional end-users (such as 
electric utilities); 
‘‘(vi) potential end-users of new tech-
nologies (such as users of high-tempera-
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ture process heat for manufacturing proc-
essing, including petrochemical companies, 
manufacturers of metals, or manufacturers 
of concrete); and 
‘‘(vii) developers of advanced nuclear 
reactor technology; and 
‘‘(G) seek to ensure that the demonstration 
projects carried out under paragraph (1) do not 
cause any delay in a deployment of an advanced 
reactor by private industry and the Department 
of Energy that is underway as of the date of 
enactment of this section. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—In car-
rying 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 subpara-
graph (A); 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish 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 indus-
try 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 nu-
clear 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 re-
lating to extreme environments, including 
extremely high levels of— 
‘‘(I) radiation fluence; 
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‘‘(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 simula-
tion to enable accelerated design and licensing; 
‘‘(D) related technologies, such as tech-
nologies to manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear 
waste, are developed; 
‘‘(E) nuclear research infrastructure is 
maintained or constructed, such as— 
‘‘(i) currently operational research re-
actors at the National Laboratories and in-
stitutions 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 non-light water 
coolant physics and chemistry is improved; 
‘‘(G) advanced sensors and control systems 
are developed; and 
‘‘(H) advanced manufacturing and ad-
vanced construction techniques and materials 
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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 strik-
ing ‘‘Efficiency’’; 
(2) in the items relating to sections 957, 958, 
and 959, by inserting ‘‘Sec.’’ before ‘‘9’’ each place 
it appears; and 
(3) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 959 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 959A. Advanced nuclear reactor research and development goals.’’. 
SEC. 4. ADVANCED FUELS DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 953 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16273) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (d) 
as paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (5), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(2) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting 
‘‘this subsection’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘minimize environmental’’ 
and inserting ‘‘improve fuel cycle performance 
while minimizing the cost and complexity of 
processing, environmental impacts,’’; and 
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(C) by striking ‘‘the Generation IV’’; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out activi-
ties under the program, the Secretary shall consider 
the potential benefits of those activities for civilian 
nuclear applications, environmental remediation, and 
national security.’’; 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
From within funds authorized to be appropriated to 
the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear En-
ergy, the Secretary may use to carry out the pro-
gram under this subsection, $40,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2021 through 2025.’’; 
(5) by inserting before paragraph (1) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(a) MATERIAL RECOVERY AND WASTE FORM DE-
VELOPMENT.—’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ADVANCED FUELS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program to conduct research relating to— 
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‘‘(A) next-generation light water reactor 
fuels that demonstrate improved— 
‘‘(i) performance; and 
‘‘(ii) accident tolerance; and 
‘‘(B) innovative advanced reactor fuels that 
demonstrate improved— 
‘‘(i) proliferation resistance; and 
‘‘(ii) use of resources. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under this subsection, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) focus on the development of accident- 
tolerant fuel and cladding concepts that are ca-
pable of achieving initial commercialization by 
December 31, 2025; 
‘‘(B) conduct studies regarding the means 
by which those concepts would impact reactor 
economics, the fuel cycle, operations, safety, 
and the environment; 
‘‘(C) support a healthy nuclear fuel cycle 
capable of providing higher levels of enriched 
uranium for domestic advanced nuclear develop-
ment and for national security applications; 
‘‘(D) subject to paragraph (3), publish the 
results of the studies conducted under subpara-
graph (B); and 
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‘‘(E) cooperate with institutions of higher 
education through the Nuclear Energy Univer-
sity and Integrated Research Projects programs 
of the Department. 
‘‘(3) SENSITIVE INFORMATION.—The Secretary 
shall not publish any information under paragraph 
(2)(C) that is detrimental to national security, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
From within funds authorized to be appropriated to 
the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear En-
ergy, the Secretary may use to carry out the pro-
gram under this subsection $120,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.’’. 
Æ 
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