Yesterday U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act (ANIA) 2020. The provisions of ANIA are intended to help ensure that the U.S. is competitive with countries like Russia and China on nuclear technology advancement and project development abroad. Among other things, the bill empowers American agencies with jurisdiction over nuclear power, addresses the revitalization of the existing nuclear fleet, and removes barriers so advanced nuclear technology can flourish. For additional details on the bill, please read our previous blog post.
This bill is a result of hard work and persistent efforts on the part of the Senators involved as well as various Senate staff, stakeholders, and industry experts. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a hearing on the discussion draft bill in August, during which blog author Amy Roma testified in support of the legislation’s provisions supporting nuclear innovation. Her testimony relied on and referenced several policy papers that the blog authors have written, including the following:
In her testimony, Amy discussed the current state of traditional nuclear reactors, and potential regulatory considerations for advanced nuclear. Her testimony praised ANIA for providing support for the development of nuclear technology as a source of clean, carbon-free power. It also underscored the importance of U.S. leadership on the international nuclear arena.
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