Nuclear Power 2021 Act

Bill: 112-s-512
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2011-03-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Licensing and registrations
Nuclear power
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2011-03-08
text: 
Nuclear Power 2021 Act - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to implement, through cooperative agreements with private sector partners, programs to: (1) develop a standard design for each of two small modular reactors, at least one of which has a rated capacity of not more than 50 electrical megawatts; (2) obtain a design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for each of the designs by January 1, 2018; and (3) demonstrate the licensing of small modular reactors by developing applications for a combined license for each of the designs so certified, and obtaining a combined license from the NRC for each of the certified designs by January 1, 2021.
 
Requires the Secretary to select proposals for such cooperative agreements through the use of competitive procedures and an impartial review of their scientific and technical merit.

action_date: 2011-08-30
text: 
Nuclear Power 2021 Act - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary of Energy to implement, through cooperative agreements with private sector partners, programs to: (1) develop a standard design for not less than two small modular reactors, at least one of which has a rated capacity of not more than 50 electrical megawatts; (2) obtain a design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for each of the standard designs by January 1, 2018; (3) demonstrate the licensing of small modular reactors by developing applications for a combined license for each of the designs so certified, and obtaining a combined license from the NRC for each of the certified designs by January 1, 2021; and (4) carry out a program to obtain an early site permit for 1 or more small modular reactors.
 
Requires the Secretary to select proposals for such cooperative agreements through the use of competitive procedures and an impartial review of their scientific and technical merit.
 
Sets forth cost-share requirements under which the non-federal source must provide at least: (1) 50% of the cost of the development of each small modular reactor design and each early site permit, and (2) 75% of the cost of the licensing demonstration of each small modular reactor design.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-30
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 137.
action_date: 2011-08-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/02/2011 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 112-57.
action_date: 2011-08-30
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/02/2011 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 112-57.
action_date: 2011-07-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2011-06-07
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-107.
action_date: 2011-03-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2011-03-08
text: Introduced in Senate