House passes Curtis’ advanced nuclear projects bill as part of larger energy package

The U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 28 passed a nuclear energy package that included the bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Reactor Prize Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT).

The congressman’s bill, H.R. 6253, which he introduced on Nov. 7, 2023, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), would authorize the U.S. Secretary of Energy to make awards to cover regulatory costs relating to licensing certain first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear reactors, according to the bill’s text.

“The costs and red tape associated with our permitting process are proving to be duplicative and ineffective,” said Rep. Curtis. “We need innovation in the nuclear space to ensure affordable, reliable and clean energy in our future and Congress must do more to ensure that can happen.”

H.R. 6253 last week advanced to the U.S. Senate as part of the bipartisan Atomic Energy Advancement Act, H.R. 6544, introduced in December 2023 by U.S. Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Diana DeGette (D-CO). 

The larger bill — which the House approved with a 365-36, 1 present vote — would establish various requirements to speed up the deployment of nuclear energy technologies, such as advanced nuclear reactors.

As part of that bill, Rep. Curtis’ bill specifically would authorize the Energy Secretary to make targeted awards to cover fees assessed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the first technologies that are licensed and made operational in five unique categories. The prizes aim to incentivize innovation and quality applications, ultimately making it more affordable for first-of-a-kind technology to get through the licensing process, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Curtis’ staff.

The subsequent expansion of nuclear energy in the United States would support the uranium industry in Rep. Curtis’ home state of Utah, which includes mining, as well as the only conventional uranium mill operation in the United States — the White Mesa Mill in San Juan County, Utah. 

Currently, Russia disproportionately controls the uranium supply chain, according to the congressman’s staff.