Applaud Funding of DOE’s Small Module Reactor Program and New Program for Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

April 26, 2012

Washington, D.C. – The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) issued the following statement by the co-chairmen of its Nuclear Initiative, former Senator Pete Domenici and Warren F. “Pete” Miller, Jr., former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE):

“Today, the Senate Committee on Appropriations marked up its Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013) Energy and Water spending bill. We are encouraged that the full Committee bill builds on the work of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee and includes funding for key nuclear programs, such as DOE’s Small Module Reactor Program and a new program for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.”

“We believe that small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) present an exciting new paradigm for nuclear power technology. We support the DOE SMR Licensing Technical Support program, which provides a pathway to commercial deployment through private-public cost-sharing. We also believe it is essential to continue R&D on SMRs and other advanced reactor concepts that may enhance reactor safety and reduce radioactive waste challenges.”

“Our country must move ahead to break the decades-long stalemate on nuclear issues. The FY2013 Energy and Water Appropriations bill takes an important step forward by authorizing DOE to conduct a pilot program to license, construct, and operate one or more consolidated storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. We strongly encourage continued efforts to implement the full recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.”

Earlier today, Senator Domenici and Dr. Miller sent letters to Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye and Ranking Member Thad Cochran, and to Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Diane Feinstein and Ranking Member Lamar Alexander, urging them to maintain the important nuclear provisions in the final bill.

Click here to read the letters.

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Energy Project