Sen. Murkowski lauds DOE efforts to renew US nuclear energy dominance

Following a report from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) on methods capable of restoring the nation’s place in the global nuclear energy industry, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released a statement commending the efforts.

For Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, those efforts were deeply personal, given that several reflected her past efforts. They included support for the National Reactor Innovation Sector and the Versatile Test Reactor, the development and demonstration of advanced reactors and the high assay, low enriched uranium needed to power them, and making nuclear energy eligible for U.S. international financing. Murkowski has also pushed to demonstrate small modular reactors and microreactors for remote and defense purposes in her home state.

“I welcome this report, which outlines key steps to move forward on nuclear energy,” Murkowski said. “In order for the United States to have a viable nuclear energy industry and actually compete with countries like China and Russia, who are charging ahead, we need to step up. Expanding the global reach of American energy requires a robust strategy that includes government-backed financing and diplomatic agreements. The Department of Energy’s report outlines the comprehensive approach we need, building on initial steps taken in research and providing a pathway for demonstration and deployment.”

Some of these talking points were echoed in the report itself, which stated that America was losing its competitive global position in nuclear energy and technology to nations with state-owned enterprises. It also claimed the U.S. was about to lose its ability to produce domestic uranium, warning of the perils this would spell for national security. To counter this, it called for the above, as well as investment to guarantee a healthy and growing nuclear energy sector, a whole-of-government approach to supporting the industry and boosting the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle to make it viable.