U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) called on U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to secure America’s nuclear energy sector by addressing the nation’s immediate and long-term fuel supply vulnerabilities.
“Given looming risks to American nuclear fuel infrastructure and supply, we believe you should prioritize departmental capabilities to address vulnerabilities in the short term and to facilitate restoration of private, domestic nuclear energy fuel infrastructure in the long term,” the members wrote in an April 27 letter sent to Granholm. “Unfortunately, the president’s budget proposal indicates no clear action on this front.”
Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Upton pointed out that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed the risks of weakening American energy security.
“These risks extend beyond our oil and gas assets to include supply vulnerabilities in our civilian nuclear sector,” they wrote. “This sector is essential for national and energy security, and for strengthening the geostrategic relationships necessary to compete with Russia, China, and other adversaries.”
The lawmakers also noted that global nuclear fuel market disruptions, U.S. reactor shutdowns over the past decade, and reliance on inexpensive, Russian-sourced fuels to more than 20 percent of America’s nuclear fuel supply has created strategic vulnerabilities that “now threaten disruption to fuel supplies for a nuclear fleet that is responsible for 20 percent of the nation’s electricity supply, as well as the timely deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.”
The representatives reminded Granholm that as the nation’s Energy Secretary, she has numerous authorities to take action to address these vulnerabilities and they asked her to provide them with specific information by May 11 on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) implementation on nuclear energy security measures.
For instance, they requested information be provided on all actions DOE is taking to identify and address current and potential nuclear fuel supply disruptions; current data and an assessment of the domestic market for enriched fuels and potential gaps if Russian-sourced supplies cease or are curtailed; and a list of authorities, budget and other resources at DOE’s disposal to support planning to respond to any supply disruptions and assist the long-term development of private, domestic fuel cycle infrastructure, among other details.