Nick Pope
The Senate passed major nuclear energy legislation on Tuesday, sending the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The upper house of the legislature passed the Fire and Safety Appropriations Act – a bill containing the text of the pro-nuclear ADVANCE Act – by an overwhelming majority 88-2 two-party vote. The bill represents one of the most significant efforts by Congress in recent years to boost the nation’s nuclear energy infrastructure and capacity, and a sporadic moment of consensus among both Democrats and Republicans on energy policy by Biden’s first term.
If Biden passes the bill, which has already been passed passed in the House, it will be a tool to simplify the permitting process for advanced nuclear reactors, improve the process of exporting certain nuclear energy technologies abroad, strengthen the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), facilitate the development of nuclear fusion and related technologies, and more, According to to his text.
Democrats who were screaming about a climate apocalypse voted against a bill promoting carbon-free nuclear energyhttps://t.co/KWk0oN08HW
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 29, 2024
“Today we sent the ADVANCE Act to the president’s desk because Congress worked together to recognize the importance of nuclear energy to America’s future, and we accomplished our job,” said West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top GOP legislator on the Senate Environment Committee. and the Public Works Commission and a key participant in the negotiations, he said adoption of the act. “This bipartisan legislation will encourage more innovation and investment in nuclear technologies right here on our shores. It also directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to more effectively carry out its crucial regulatory mission and helps redevelop conventional energy facilities for future nuclear energy projects.
Nuclear power is emission-free and reliable, which means it is a reasonable option for Republicans, many of whom are strongly opposed to Biden’s more than $1 trillion climate project agendaand Democrats, who largely oppose significantly increasing reliance on other reliable fuel sources such as coal or natural gas.
However, despite its advantages, the technology has struggled to take off in the U.S. over the past few decades, due in part to high costs, an burdensome regulatory environment, burdensome permitting and concerns in some quarters of the public about a potential nuclear catastrophe, energy policy experts previously said explained to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“I urge President Biden to quickly sign this historic nuclear policy reform,” said South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan, another key player in the bill and subsequent negotiations: he said his transitions. “With the President’s signature, we will protect our energy security and national security.”
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Nick Pope is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Sen. Shelley Moore Capito” by Senator Shelley Moore Capito. “Rep Jeff Duncan” photo by Congressman Jeff Duncan. Cover photo “Nuclear Power Plant” by Pixabay.
