Credit: TerraPower
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) applauded action on Oct. 13 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to designate award recipients of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which will provide initial funding to projects developing cutting-edge nuclear reactors in the United States. Two of the companies are headquartered in his home state of Washington.
“The selection of these projects is an absolute game-changer for our state and makes it official: Tri-Cities, Washington, is a global leader in nuclear energy innovation,” Rep. Newhouse said. “I could not be more thrilled with this announcement and this momentous opportunity for our region.”
The DOE’s selected ARDP recipients — Bellevue, Wash.-based TerraPower LLC, along with X-energy, a nuclear reactor and fuel design engineering company, and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy — will partner with Richland, Wash.-based Energy Northwest to continue innovating the next generation of nuclear energy technology.
“The Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program indicates the Department of Energy’s commitment to the development of safe, reliable nuclear power, which is unquestionably necessary as our country heads toward a clean energy future,” said Rep. Newhouse. “I applaud DOE’s recognition of the brilliant scientific minds in central Washington, our region’s history of nuclear development and innovation, and the legacy these projects will establish for the future of nuclear power in the United States.”
DOE awarded TerraPower and Rockville, Md.-based X-energy $80 million each in initial funding to build two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years, according to the department’s announcement.
The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry that will deliver two first-of-a-kind advanced reactors to be licensed for commercial operations, said DOE, which will invest a total of $3.2 billion over seven years, subject to the availability of future appropriations, with industry partners providing matching funds.
“The awards are the first step of a new program that will strengthen American leadership in the next generation of nuclear technologies,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette. “These partnerships will help maximize DOE’s investment in advanced reactors, which play a vital role in our clean energy strategy.”