NEI president outlines industry priorities for 2018 budget
NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick asked Congress at a recent hearing to emphasize improving efficiency at the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), dealing with used nuclear fuel and supporting new technologies in the fiscal year 2018 budget.
“Congressionally-directed independent assessments emphasize the need for NRC to continue improving the efficiency and transparency of its regulatory processes and operations—consistent with its own principles of good regulation,” Korsnick said
in her testimony before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Energy and Water Development Subcommittee.
Korsnick also proposed licensing the proposed Yucca Mountain repository and funding federal research and development
programs that support new technologies and innovation, including small modular reactors and advanced technology fuel.
“The ability of the nuclear industry to continue to innovate depends on the federal government supporting demonstration
projects and encouraging advanced research,” Korsnick said.
Korsnick also told the subcommittee that keeping nuclear facilities operating and maintaining nuclear capabilities is important for national security.
“There are 60 reactors being built around the world today,” Korsnick said. “Two thirds of those are Chinese and Russian designs. The U.S. needs to be in that conversation. We do not get in that conversation by letting our [nuclear] fleet at home atrophy. We need to take this very seriously, as a national security issue.”
