Senate Energy Committee Draft Energy Bill released
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is set to begin a series of markups of comprehensive energy legislation next week. The draft committee bill includes several proposed provisions related to nuclear power, science and technology.
Within the Nuclear Matters Title (Title IV), the bill would:
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extend indefinitely the authorization period for the indemnification provisions for NRC licensees and DOE contractors (Price-Anderson reauthorization); |
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allow the Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance to supplement private sector financing for new nuclear plants if it is determined the plant is necessary to contribute to energy security, fuel or technology diversity or clean air attainment goals. Financial assistance shall not exceed 50 percent of the project costs; financial assistance means a line of credit, secured loan, loan guarantee, purchase agreement or some combination; |
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Regulations to implement this section are required within one year of enactment |
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direct the Secretary of Energy to establish an Advanced Reactor Hydrogen Co-Generation project. The project shall include research, development, design, construction and operation of a hydrogen production co-generation system using an advanced reactor; |
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The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab (INEEL) would be the lead laboratory for the project The system must be operational by 2010 Funds are authorized for the project, including construction |
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require emissions of criteria air pollutants which are avoided by use of an emission-free capacity to be eligible for, and not excluded from, state incentive grants; |
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Elsewhere in the draft: |
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The Nuclear Energy Research Initiative, the Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization Program, the Nuclear Power 2010 Program, the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative, the Reactor Production of Hydrogen, and Nuclear Infrastructure Support are all authorized for federal funds; |
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Additionally, the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative is authorized separately as is the University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support. |
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