Title: Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies Act
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies Act
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to advance the research and development of domestic advanced, affordable, and clean nuclear energy.
Specifically, DOE must (1) complete at least two advanced nuclear reactor demonstration projects by December 31, 2025, and (2) demonstrate at least two and not more than four additional operational advanced reactor designs by December 31, 2035.
DOE must establish goals for research relating to advanced nuclear reactors, including by coordinating with members of private industry to advance the demonstration of various designs of advanced nuclear reactors.
DOE must also develop and update biennially a 10-year strategic plan for its Office of Nuclear Energy.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3358 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3358

   To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of 
Energy to carry out demonstration projects relating to advanced nuclear 
 reactor technologies to support domestic energy needs, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2019

   Mr. Higgins of Louisiana introduced the following bill; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of 
Energy to carry out demonstration projects relating to advanced nuclear 
 reactor technologies to support domestic energy needs, 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 ``Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy 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 or fusion 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 improvements compared 
                to commercial nuclear reactors under construction as of 
                the date of enactment of this section, including 
                improvements such as--
                            ``(i) additional inherent safety features;
                            ``(ii) lower waste yields;
                            ``(iii) improved fuel performance;
                            ``(iv) increased tolerance to loss of fuel 
                        cooling;
                            ``(v) enhanced reliability;
                            ``(vi) increased proliferation resistance;
                            ``(vii) increased thermal efficiency;
                            ``(viii) reduced consumption of cooling 
                        water;
                            ``(ix) the ability to integrate into 
                        electric applications and nonelectric 
                        applications;
                            ``(x) modular sizes to allow for deployment 
                        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 an advanced nuclear reactor operated--
                    ``(A) as part of the power generation facilities of 
                an electric utility system; or
                    ``(B) in any other manner for the purpose of 
                demonstrating the suitability for commercial 
                application of the advanced nuclear reactor.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to direct 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 private sector to 
        produce--
                    ``(A) emission-free power at a cost of $60 per mWh 
                or less;
                    ``(B) heat for community heating, industrial 
                purposes, or synthetic fuel production;
                    ``(C) remote or off-grid energy supply; or
                    ``(D) backup or mission-critical power supplies;
            ``(2) developing subgoals for nuclear energy research 
        programs that would accomplish the goals of the demonstration 
        projects carried out under subsection (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 sector--
                    ``(A) to Federal research facilities and personnel; 
                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) complete not fewer than 2 advanced nuclear 
                reactor demonstration projects by not later than 
                December 31, 2025; and
                    ``(B) establish a program to demonstrate not fewer 
                than 2, and not more than 4 additional operational 
                advanced reactor designs by not later than December 31, 
                2035.
            ``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out demonstration projects 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary 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) selected projects can meet the 
                        deadline established in paragraph (1) to 
                        demonstrate first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear 
                        reactor technologies, for which additional 
                        information shall be considered, including--
                                    ``(I) the technology readiness 
                                level of a proposed advanced nuclear 
                                reactor technology;
                                    ``(II) the technical abilities and 
                                qualifications of a team desiring to 
                                partner with the Department to 
                                demonstrate a proposed advanced nuclear 
                                reactor technology; and
                                    ``(III) the capacity to meet cost-
                                share requirements of the Department;
                    ``(C) ensure that each evaluation of candidate 
                technologies for the demonstration project is completed 
                through an external review of the proposed design, 
                which shall be conducted by a panel that includes not 
                fewer than 1 representative of each of--
                            ``(i) an electric utility relevant to the 
                        intended initial deployment market;
                            ``(ii) the local government of the intended 
                        initial deployment market; and
                            ``(iii) an entity that uses high-
                        temperature process heat for manufacturing or 
                        industrial processing, such as a petrochemical 
                        company, a manufacturer of metals, or a 
                        manufacturer of concrete, if applicable;
                    ``(D) when applicable, enter into cost-sharing 
                agreements with partners in accordance with section 988 
                for the conduct of activities relating to the research, 
                development, and demonstration 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; and
                    ``(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) the National Laboratories;
                            ``(iii) institutions of higher education;
                            ``(iv) traditional end-users (such as 
                        electric utilities);
                            ``(v) potential end-users of new 
                        technologies (such as users of high-temperature 
                        process heat for manufacturing processing, 
                        including petrochemical companies, 
                        manufacturers of metals, or manufacturers of 
                        concrete); and
                            ``(vi) developers of advanced nuclear 
                        reactor technology.
            ``(3) Additional requirements.--In carrying 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 subparagraph (A);
                    ``(C) support near-term research and development to 
                address the highest risk technical challenges to the 
                successful demonstration of a selected advanced reactor 
                technology, in accordance with--
                            ``(i) subparagraph (B); and
                            ``(ii) the research and development 
                        activities under section 958; and
                    ``(D) establish such technology advisory working 
                groups as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to 
                advise the Secretary regarding the technical challenges 
                identified under subparagraph (B) and the scope of 
                research and development programs to address the 
                challenges, in accordance with subparagraph (C), to be 
                comprised of--
                            ``(i) private sector advanced nuclear 
                        reactor technology developers;
                            ``(ii) technical experts with respect to 
                        the relevant technologies at institutions of 
                        higher education; and
                            ``(iii) technical experts at the National 
                        Laboratories.
    ``(d) Goals.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 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 industry 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 nuclear 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 
                        relating to extreme environments, including 
                        extremely high levels of--
                                    ``(I) radiation fluence;
                                    ``(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 simulation to enable 
                accelerated design and licensing;
                    ``(D) related technologies, such as technologies to 
                manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear waste, are developed;
                    ``(E) nuclear research infrastructure is maintained 
                or constructed, such as--
                            ``(i) currently operational research 
                        reactors at the National Laboratories and 
                        institutions 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 nonlight water coolant 
                physics and chemistry is improved;
                    ``(G) advanced sensors and control systems are 
                developed; and
                    ``(H) advanced manufacturing and advanced 
                construction techniques and materials 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 striking 
        ``Efficiency'';
            (2) by amending the items relating to sections 957, 958, 
        and 959 to read as follows:

``Sec. 957. High-performance computation and supportive research.
``Sec. 958. Enabling nuclear energy innovation.
``Sec. 959. Budget plan.'';
        and
            (3) by inserting after the item relating to section 959 the 
        following:

``Sec. 959A. Advanced nuclear reactor research and development 
                            goals.''.

SEC. 3. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) (as amended by section 2(a)) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 959B. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, 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 a 10-year strategic plan for the Office of Nuclear 
Energy of the Department, in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Requirements.--
            ``(1) Components.--The strategic plan under this section 
        shall designate--
                    ``(A) programs that support the planned 
                accomplishment of--
                            ``(i) the goals established under section 
                        959A; and
                            ``(ii) the demonstration programs 
                        identified under subsection (c) of that 
                        section; and
                    ``(B) programs that--
                            ``(i) do not support the planned 
                        accomplishment of demonstration programs, or 
                        the goals, referred to in subparagraph (A); but
                            ``(ii) are important to the mission of the 
                        Office of Nuclear Energy, as determined by the 
                        Secretary.
            ``(2) Program planning.--In developing the strategic plan 
        under this section, the Secretary shall specify expected 
        timelines for, as applicable--
                    ``(A) the accomplishment of relevant objectives 
                under current programs of the Department; or
                    ``(B) the commencement of new programs to 
                accomplish those objectives.
    ``(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 updated 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 submitted under this section.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 594) is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 959A the following:

``Sec. 959B. Nuclear energy strategic plan.''.
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