House Republicans Urge Energy Secretary to ‘Prioritize’ Nuclear Power

April 29, 2022 by Dan McCue
House Republicans Urge Energy Secretary to ‘Prioritize’ Nuclear Power
(Photo via Pixabay)

WASHINGTON — Two members of the House Republican caucus are urging Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to revitalize America’s nuclear power infrastructure and include it in an “all of the above” approach to securing the nation’s energy future.

Reps. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a letter sent to Granholm on Wednesday that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposes 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 said.

“Unfortunately, global nuclear fuel market disruptions in the wake of Japanese and German nuclear reactor shutdowns following the Fukushima accident in 2011, as well as U.S. reactor shutdowns over the past decade, undermined domestic uranium mining, conversion and enrichment services,” Upton and Rodgers continued, adding, “This eroded our domestic nuclear fuel infrastructure.” 

One result, the representatives said, is that America became more reliable on inexpensive, Russian-sourced fuels and today gets more than 20% of its nuclear fuel supply from a source with which it now has seriously strained relations as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

They argued the ongoing conflict and the lob and return-of-service of sanctions by both sides has made the nation’s remaining nuclear plants vulnerable to fuel supply disruptions. At the same time, they said, such shortages could slow the deployment of advanced new nuclear technologies.

Given what they see as the urgency of the situation, Upton and Rodgers urged Granholm to “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.”

Both noted that Granholm, as energy secretary, could take a number of steps to address their concerns. Using her authority under the Atomic Energy Act, for instance, she could take actions to increase the availability of domestic uranium and conversion services to advance domestic fuel cycle capacity in the United States.  

Among other things, this would allow her to expand the existing American Assured Fuel Supply to address supply disruptions.

The American Assured Fuel Supply, created by the Department of Energy in the early 2010s, is a reserve of low enriched uranium to serve as a backup fuel supply for both domestic facilities and foreign allies in the event of a fuel supply disruption.

Under the DOE Organization Act, Granholm is further authorized to direct coordination between components of the department, including the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Office of Nuclear Energy, to assure all DOE resources can be brought to bear to assist supply threats.

The representatives emphasized that they aren’t promoting nuclear power at the expense of other energy sources, insisting merely that nuclear power should be receiving the same attention from the administration as fossil fuels and renewable energy.

They do note, however, that President Joe Biden’s recently proposed fiscal year 2023 budget “indicates no action” on the nuclear fuel front.

Biden’s $5.8 trillion spending plan, released on March 28, calls for increasing the DOE’s budget by 7.1% to $48.2 billion, up from $45 billion enacted in fiscal year 2022, partly to reflect spending required by the bipartisan infrastructure bill. 

It also includes $44.9 billion for clean energy, electrification and other programs to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the U.S. for the effects of climate change.

“I believe America must pursue energy independence, with every tool in the toolbox,” Upton said in his weekly email to constituents this week. “Nuclear energy is a part of an ‘all of the above’ energy plan that includes renewable and traditional energy sources.” 

According to the Energy Information Administration, there were 55 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 93 nuclear power reactors in 28 U.S. states as of Dec. 31, 2021. 

Of the currently operating nuclear power plants, 23 plants have one reactor, 32 plants have two reactors, and three plants have three reactors.

The Palo Verde nuclear power plant in Arizona is the largest nuclear plant, and it has three reactors with a combined net summer electricity generating capacity of 3,937 MW. 

The R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in New York is the smallest nuclear plant, and it has one reactor with a net summer electricity generating capacity of about 581 MW.

The newest nuclear reactor to enter service, Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee, which has 1,122 MW net summer electricity generating capacity, began commercial operation in 2016.

Two other nuclear reactors are actively under construction: Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue

A+
a-
  • Cathy McMorris Rodgers
  • Energy Department
  • Fred Upton
  • Jennifer Granholm
  • nuclear power
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Congress

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 25, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top