Fission for the Future Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.7360 | Sponsor: Rep. Doyle, Michael F. (D-PA)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Fission for the Future Act of 2022
This bill supports the commercial deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. Specifically, the Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program that provides financial assistance for the commercial planning, licensing, development, and construction of (1) advanced nuclear reactors, or (2) supply chain infrastructure associated with such reactors or related technologies.
In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises a DOE program designed to strengthen university research and training in nuclear science and engineering.

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to provide 
 Federal financial assistance to support advanced nuclear reactors and 
    associated supply chain infrastructure, 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 ``Fission for the Future Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. ADVANCED NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term ``advanced nuclear 
        reactor'' has the meaning given the term in section 951(b) of 
        the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271(b)).
            (2) Electric utility.--The term ``electric utility'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Power 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 796).
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
        each of--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the 
                Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 5304));
                    (C) a Tribal Organization (as defined in section 4 
                of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
                    (D) a unit of local government;
                    (E) an electric utility;
                    (F) a National Laboratory;
                    (G) an institution of higher education; and
                    (H) a private entity specializing in--
                            (i) advanced nuclear technology 
                        development;
                            (ii) nuclear supply chains; or
                            (iii) with respect to nuclear technologies 
                        and nonelectric applications of nuclear 
                        technologies, construction, project financing, 
                        contract structuring and risk allocation, or 
                        regulatory and licensing processes.
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (5) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            (6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program 
        established under subsection (b)(1).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Establishment of Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
        provide Federal financial assistance to eligible entities to 
        support the commercial planning, licensing, development, and 
        construction, and construction planning, of--
                    (A) advanced nuclear reactors for the purpose of 
                enhancing grid resilience, reliability, and security 
                while also seeking to reduce emissions; or
                    (B) supply chain infrastructure associated with 
                advanced nuclear reactors or related technologies.
            (2) Competitive procedures.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, the Secretary shall carry out the program using a 
        competitive, merit-based review process that is consistent with 
        section 989 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16353).
    (c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring Federal financial 
assistance under the program shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Selection.--
            (1) In general.--In selecting eligible entities to receive 
        Federal financial assistance under the program, the Secretary 
        shall give special consideration to projects--
                    (A) to develop or provide services to support--
                            (i) market analysis;
                            (ii) project structure models;
                            (iii) models for electricity market 
                        analysis;
                            (iv) nonelectric applications;
                            (v) financial models;
                            (vi) analysis, planning, and, as 
                        appropriate, management of environmental issues 
                        at fossil fuel electric generation facilities 
                        that are retired or scheduled to retire; and
                            (vii) site planning, review, testing, 
                        analysis, and preparation;
                    (B) to support licensing activities, permitting, 
                and environmental impact studies; and
                    (C) for--
                            (i)(I) the construction planning of 
                        advanced nuclear reactors; and
                            (II) related--
                                    (aa) planning and construction of 
                                transmission and distribution systems;
                                    (bb) modernization of generation 
                                facilities;
                                    (cc) development of microgrids; and
                                    (dd) supply chain infrastructure;
                            (ii) infrastructure for nonelectric 
                        applications; and
                            (iii) acquisition of relevant rights-of-
                        way.
            (2) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive 
        Federal financial assistance under the program, the Secretary 
        shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    (A) plan to carry out projects at or near the site 
                of 1 or more fossil fuel electric generation facilities 
                that are retired or scheduled to retire, including 
                multi-unit facilities that are partially shut down--
                            (i) to reduce the cost of--
                                    (I) infrastructure requirements;
                                    (II) transmission requirements; and
                                    (III) licensing and permitting 
                                requirements;
                            (ii) to support the productive reuse of 
                        fossil fuel electric generation facilities that 
                        are retired or scheduled to retire; and
                            (iii) to sustain and revitalize communities 
                        impacted by the closure of fossil fuel electric 
                        generation facilities;
                    (B) plan to support nonelectric applications, 
                including supplying heat for--
                            (i) energy storage;
                            (ii) hydrogen or other liquid and gaseous 
                        fuel or chemical production;
                            (iii) industrial processes;
                            (iv) desalination technologies and 
                        processes;
                            (v) isotope production;
                            (vi) district heating; and
                            (vii) other applications, as the Secretary 
                        determines to be appropriate;
                    (C) plan to support supply chain infrastructure, 
                including manufacturing, associated with advanced 
                nuclear reactors or related technologies;
                    (D) have implemented or demonstrated the ability to 
                successfully implement workforce training or retraining 
                programs to train workers to perform activities 
                described in this section; and
                    (E) plan to be cost competitive.
    (e) Cost Share.--Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to Federal financial assistance provided 
under the program.

SEC. 3. WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING.

    Section 954(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16274(b)) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Graduate'';
            (2) by striking ``graduate'' each place it appears;
            (3) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``community colleges, 
        trade schools, registered apprenticeship programs, pre-
        apprenticeship programs'' after ``universities,'';
            (4) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and 
        inserting ``2023 through 2027'';
            (5) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Focus areas.--In carrying out the subprogram under 
        this subsection, the Secretary may implement traineeships in 
        focus areas that, in the determination of the Secretary, are 
        necessary to support the nuclear energy sector in the United 
        States, including--
                    ``(A) research and development;
                    ``(B) construction and operation;
                    ``(C) associated supply chains; and
                    ``(D) workforce training and retraining to support 
                transitioning workforces.''.
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