Mark Kelly Questions NRC Chairman on Accelerating Nuclear Energy Deployment

Prioritizing Nuclear Energy Pathways

• 🎯 Sen. Mark Kelly questioned NRC Chairman David Wright on how to achieve ambitious national goals for nuclear energy, including constructing 10 new reactors by 2030 and quadrupling generation capacity by 2050.
• ⚠️ The US is currently not on track to meet these goals, with only six reactor designs certified and limited new operating licenses issued over the past 25 years.
• 💡 Kelly presented two options for the NRC: fast-tracking proven utility-scale designs for immediate deployment or certifying tomorrow's advanced modular reactors.

Strategies for Grid-Scale Nuclear Power

• ⚡ NRC Chairman David Wright emphasized the need to pursue both existing utility-scale designs and advanced reactors to meet energy demands.
• 🚀 For grid-scale power, Wright highlighted the necessity of building large plants, suggesting that advanced reactors alone are insufficient.
• 📈 Wright outlined five key areas for increasing nuclear power: power uprates for existing reactors, license renewals, restarting decommissioned plants, building new large plants (like the AP-1000), and developing microreactors and SMRs.

Near-Term Nuclear Power Enhancements

• ✅ Commissioners agreed that both pathways are necessary, with progress on advanced reactors depending on application quality.
• 💡 In the near term, significant progress can be made by restarting recently shut-down reactors, approving power uprates, and advancing higher burnup fuels for longer run times and less downtime.

Licensing for Abandoned Uranium Mine Cleanup

• ⛏️ Sen. Kelly raised concerns about the slow licensing process for innovative technologies used in cleaning up abandoned uranium mines, particularly on the Navajo Nation.
• 🧪 A technology that could reduce hazardous waste by up to 85% is stalled due to NRC licensing.
• 🤝 All commissioners committed to prioritizing the review of licensing applications for abandoned mine remediation to expedite cleanup efforts.