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Support the nuclear provisions in the upcoming energy bill

Action Alert

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), will mark up the nuclear energy-related provisions of the comprehensive energy bill on Thursday, April 10. The draft committee bill includes several proposed provisions related to nuclear power, science and technology.


Call or email your Senator today. Contact links to Senate Committee Members are below.

Please tell them:
"As a professional in nuclear science and technology, I support the current nuclear provisions outlined in the upcoming Energy Bill."

Urge your Senate Committee Members to:
  • Reauthorize Price-Anderson
  • Supplement Private Sector Funding for Nuclear power
  • Establish an Advanced Reactor Hydrogen Co-Generation project
  • Expand eligibility for state incentive grants
More information about the bill can be found at http://energy.senate.gov/. The National Energy Policy can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/. Additional details follow.

Senate Energy Committee Members

Chairman Pete V. Domenici - New Mexico
Mary L. Landrieu - Louisiana
Lisa Murkowski - Alaska
Jeff Bingaman - New Mexico
Evan Bayh - Indiana
James M. Talent - Missouri
Daniel K. Akaka - Hawaii
Dianne Feinstein - California
Conrad Burns - Montana
Byron Dorgan - North Dakota
Charles Schumer - New York
Gordon Smith - Oregon
Bob Graham - Florida
Maria Cantwell - Washington
Jim Bunning - Kentucky
Ron Wyden - Oregon
Craig Thomas - Wyoming
Jon Kyl - Arizona
Tim Johnson - South Dakota
Lamar Alexander - Tennessee

Nuclear Provisions

Redline of Title IV 04_09_2003

Within the Nuclear Matters Title (Title IV), the bill would
  • Extend indefinitely the authorization period for the indemnification provisions for NRC licensees and DOE contractors (Price-Anderson reauthorization).
  • 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.
  • Regulations to implement this section are required within one year of enactment.
  • 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. 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.
  • Require emissions of criteria air pollutants that are avoided by use of an emission-free capacity to be eligible for, and not excluded from, state incentive grants.
Also in the draft:
  • 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
  • Additionally, the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative is authorized separately as is the University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support.
Please consider contacting your senators to urge their support for the nuclear provisions during the markup on Thursday.


For more information, please contact Doug Wasitis at 202-312-7482 or via e-mail.
Media Contact:
Outreach Department|708-579-8224