McSally’s bipartisan bill targets federal dollars to U.S. nuclear power plants

U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R- AZ) recently unveiled bipartisan legislation to reduce the operation and maintenance costs of U.S. nuclear power plants to both increase their cost-competitiveness and develop the new technologies required to operate them efficiently.

“If we’re serious about reducing our carbon emissions,” Sen. McSally said, “we need to get serious about nuclear energy.” 

Sen. McSally cosponsored the Nuclear Energy Renewal Act, S. 2368, with U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to support licensing and relicensing of certain nuclear facilities and nuclear energy research, demonstration and development, according to the congressional record summary. 

If enacted, S. 2368 would task the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Energy with creating or improving programs that also would expand advanced modeling and simulation tools and bolster research and development. 

“Arizona’s Palo Verde nuclear plant is the largest in the United States and delivers a substantial amount of carbon-free energy to Americans across the region,” said Sen. McSally. “A combination of fuels — including nuclear, renewable and fossil — will ensure the U.S. can continue to lead the world in a true all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

Additionally, the bill would authorize the creation of a new apprenticeship program to increase the number of skilled professionals in America’s nuclear energy workforce.

The measure has garnered support from Exelon Corp., the Nuclear Energy Institute, BPC Action, and ClearPath.