U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) commended recent action by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) that would allow the United States to support civilian nuclear power projects around the world.
“I’m pleased that the DFC is taking action to change the guidelines that restrict the opportunities to finance civil nuclear energy projects that our European allies need to get out from under the stronghold of Russia and China,” Rep. Kinzinger said on Friday.
Specifically, the DFC on June 10 began a 30-day public notice and comment period on a proposed change to the agency’s Environmental and Social Policy Procedures that would enable the consideration of support of nuclear power projects and align the definition of renewable energy with the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s definition.
Rep. Kinzinger sent a March 12 letter to the DFC expressing concerns with the agency’s internal guidelines that prevented the DFC from cooperating on such projects, which he wrote could strengthen the nation’s transatlantic partnerships while pushing back against the predatory business practices of China and Russia.
“The diversification of our energy sources, whether it be nuclear energy or renewable, is important to the United States and to our allies,” said Rep. Kinzinger. “With authoritarian regimes in Russia and China encroaching on the energy supply of our allies in Europe, it’s critical that we take a leading role in fostering opportunities that allow nuclear energy to be seen as an alternate energy source.”
The congressman also touted the bipartisan European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019, H.R. 1616, which he introduced in March 2019 with U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-MA) to help the U.S. and countries across Europe and Eurasia with global energy security and to encourage diversification of energy sources and their supply routes. The U.S. House of Representatives on March 25, 2019 approved H.R. 1616 on a 391-24 vote, but the bill has languished since then in the U.S. Senate.
“Opening up that market potential is key to energy security, and allows for even stronger transatlantic partnerships with our allies,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “Congress passed my legislation that would help our allies increase their energy sources and better defend against bad actors like Putin, and now we need the support from the DFC to make that possible.”