NEI presses for federal reforms to up U.S. nuclear competitiveness
Supporting efforts like U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson’s (R-OH) plan to support modernized nuclear export controls are among the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) current focuses on revitalizing the U.S. civil nuclear industry.
At the heart of that legislation are Part 810 applications. The Nuclear Innovation Alliance recently reported that the time to process these applications has increased steadily since 1990 and now rests at an average of 400 days–against the three months or less export authorizations prevalent in most other countries. Dan Lipman, NEI Vice President of Suppliers, New Reactors and International Programs, has decried the time needed for the U.S. Department of Energy to issue Part 810 authorization export licenses as one of the “self-inflicted wounds” harming U.S. competitiveness in the nuclear industry.
He has, however, touted the support the Trump administration has given to the nuclear industry, and Johnson appears to be echoing belief in the geopolitical potential of nuclear energy.
“It is imperative that our civil nuclear industry remains both an important part of our domestic energy portfolio, as well as a vital tool in forging and strengthening strategic relationships with our friends and allies around the world,” Johnson said.
The NEI has pointed to competition from China and Russia as making such moves increasingly vital. Therein, development of the domestic and global export markets have bolstered the countries’ nuclear ambitions, and Lipman warns it could lead to them supplanting the United States.
“(Those countries) will be poised to take leading roles in the establishment of global nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation norms and standards,” Lipman said.
For his part, Lipman has called for strong executive support in conjunction with export financing reforms. The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. has been unable to authorize large financial packages since July 2015, as it lacks the full quorum of its board of directors. The Senate banking committee has approved new nominees to fill it, but the full Senate has not yet approved them. Yet on another note, there may be further good news coming out of the DOE.
Edward McGinnis, DOE’s principal deputy assistant secretary for nuclear energy, echoed the support from the Trump Administration and said his current job is focused on revitalization of fuel cycle infrastructure, light water reactor supply chains, the operating fleet and manufacturing base, and advancement of new nuclear technologies.
