News Reactor | October 2024

News Reactor | October 2024

NewsletterThe News Reactor

Policy Activity

Federal Bipartisan Bill Would Create Nuclear Waste Administration

A bill introduced in the House proposes a new administration to manage nuclear waste and consent-based siting. The legislation, titled the Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024, creates an independent authority to manage spent nuclear fuel and oversee funding for waste management programs. The bill would remove the current spent fuel management responsibilities from the Department of Energy and instead create a single administration. Bill sponsors Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., and August Pfluger, R-Texas, state that despite current federal efforts, a new administration is needed to make headway on spent fuel and to create a national repository. The sponsors also outline taxpayer costs related to current on-site temporary storage as a motivator to advance spent fuel solutions.

State Legislation Updates

New Jersey AB 4858 (introduced) establishes a tax credit and grant program for nuclear facilities and operators. The bill offers a tax credit for the construction of new nuclear facilities and the energy produced. A tax credit is also offered to facilities that manufacture materials for use in nuclear energy reactors and facilities and incentivizes manufactures to relocate their operations to the state. Additionally, the bill creates a grant program to award financial assistance to the first advanced nuclear facility in the state to offset costs of construction and initial operation. The first advanced nuclear facility will receive the grant annually for its first 25 years of operation. The bill is a companion bill to SB 235.

Stay up to date on these bills and more with NCSL's 50-state bill tracking database. Filter by topics like nuclear, renewable energy, workforce, and more.

Nuclear Power Plants and Infrastructure

Three Mile Island Restart Plan Announced

Constellation Energy announced a power purchase agreement with Microsoft to provide the company with 20 years of energy from Three Mile Island's Unit 1 reactor. The plant's Unit 2 closed in 1979 following a partial meltdown of the reactor, but Unit 1 remained operational until decommissioning in 2019. The plant operators hope to reopen the plant by 2028 with an estimated cost of $1.6 billion. Though Constellation intends to reopen the plant, it has not yet applied for a permit with the NRC.

Palisades Restart Update

Holtec International continues to make progress toward opening Michigan's Palisades plant on Michigan's west coast. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it plans to announce license and permit decisions by August 2025 and Holtec hopes the plant is operational by October 2025. In addition to financial support from state and federal sources to support the restart, Wolverine Power Cooperative recently received $600 million to subsidize the power purchased from the plant, if reopened. Wolverine Power Cooperative will purchase 2/3 of the power produced by the Palisades once reopened.

DoD Breaks Ground for Project Pele

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will host a new research program for a portable nuclear reactor in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. The reactor, titled Project Pele, will be designed to fit in four shipping containers that can be transported by truck for use in DoD operations. This week, DoD began construction on the reactor site at INL in preparation of the final reactor design. The assembled reactor is set to be completed in 2025 by manufacturer BWXT Advanced Technologies and delivered to INL in 2026. The reactor will be the first microreactor in the U.S. and is set to be the first Generation IV reactor to produce electricity in the country.

Research and Technology

Abilene Christian University to Build First Molten Salt-Fueled Reactor

The NRC granted Abilene Christian University in Texas a permit to construct a molten salt-fueled research reactor. The reactor will be the first of this type in the country and used to study advanced nuclear technology research. The university may now construct and test the reactor without uranium but will need an additional permit to operate the reactor once construction is complete. Texas is currently home to two nuclear power plants, each with two reactors, and two research reactors.

Other News

FirstEnergy and SEC Reach Settlement in Bribery Case

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has completed the investigation of First Energy for the utility's bribes paid to influence Ohio legislation related to supporting nuclear power plants. Investigations found that FirstEnergy paid around $60 million to company Generation Now for the purpose of influencing ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder's legislative actions. FirstEnergy is ordered to pay $100 million in addition to the previous $230 million ordered in criminal charges. Householder is currently serving a 20-year term in federal prison for the crime.

Japan and China Reach Fukushima Wastewater Agreement

Japan has released treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant site in multiple stages since last year, a process that China has openly opposed. Treated water is tested by Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Now, China will also be given access to test the treated water independently, along with other stakeholders. Japan and the IAEA have said that enhanced independent testing will ensure transparency and monitoring as the country continues to cleanup material and contaminated water from the 2011 disaster.

Nuclear Energy Resources

The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a new report and tool assessing nuclear capacity across the country.

Report: Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant and Coal Power Plant Sites for New Nuclear Capacity

Tool: A Tool to Quantify Capital Cost Reduction Pathways for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

From Utility Dive: The bipartisan ADVANCE Act is boosting US nuclear. What does the industry want next?