Next Generation Nuclear Advancement Act of 2020
This bill addresses advanced nuclear energy research and development programs at the Department of Energy (DOE).
Specifically, DOE must
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8355 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8355
To establish and support advanced nuclear energy research and
development programs at the Department of Energy, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 23, 2020
Mr. Fulcher (for himself and Mr. Simpson) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish and support advanced nuclear energy research and
development programs at the Department of Energy, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Next Generation
Nuclear Advancement Act of 2020''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Integrated energy systems program.
Sec. 3. Report on duplicative programs.
Sec. 4. Light water reactor sustainability program.
Sec. 5. Nuclear energy strategic plan.
SEC. 2. INTEGRATED ENERGY SYSTEMS PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Integrated
Energy Systems Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``Integrated Energy Systems Program''--
(A) to maximize energy production and efficiency;
(B) to develop energy systems involving the
integration of nuclear energy with renewable energy,
fossil energy, and energy storage; and
(C) to expand the use of emissions-reducing energy
technologies into nonelectric sectors to achieve
significant reductions in environmental emissions.
(2) Program administration; partners.--The program shall be
carried out by the Undersecretary of Energy, in partnership
with--
(A) relevant offices within the Department of
Energy;
(B) National Laboratories;
(C) institutions of higher education; and
(D) the private sector.
(3) Goals and milestones.--The Secretary shall establish
quantitative goals and milestones for the program.
(c) Research Areas.--Research areas under the program may include--
(1) technology innovation to further the expansion of
emissions-reducing energy technologies to accommodate a modern,
resilient grid system by--
(A) effectively leveraging multiple energy sources;
(B) enhancing and streamlining engineering design;
(C) carrying out process demonstrations to optimize
performance; and
(D) streamlining regulatory review;
(2) advanced power cycles, energy extraction, and
processing of complex hydrocarbons to produce high-value
chemicals;
(3) efficient use of emissions-reducing energy technologies
for hydrogen production to support transportation and
industrial needs;
(4) enhancement and acceleration of domestic manufacturing
and desalinization technologies and processes by optimally
using clean energy sources;
(5) more effective thermal energy use, transport, and
storage;
(6) the demonstration of nuclear energy delivery for--
(A) the production of chemicals, metals, and fuels;
(B) the capture, use, and storage of carbon;
(C) renewable integration with an integrated energy
system; and
(D) conversion of carbon feedstock, such as coal,
biomass, natural gas, and refuse waste, to higher value
nonelectric commodities;
(7) the development of new analysis capabilities to
identify the best ways--
(A) to leverage multiple energy sources in a given
region; and
(B) to quantify the benefits of integrated energy
systems; and
(8) any other area that, as determined by the Secretary,
meets the purpose and goals of the program.
(d) Grants.--The Secretary may award grants under the program to
support the goals of the program.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
identifying any program that is duplicative of the program established
under section 2(b)(1).
SEC. 4. LIGHT WATER REACTOR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is
amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program.--The Secretary
shall carry out a light water reactor sustainability program--
``(1) to ensure the achievement of maximum benefits from
existing nuclear generation;
``(2) to accommodate the increase in applications for
nuclear power plant license renewals expected as of the date of
enactment of this subsection;
``(3) to enable the continued operation of existing nuclear
power plants through technology development;
``(4) to improve the performance and reduce the operation
and maintenance costs of nuclear power plants;
``(5) to promote the use of high-performance computing to
simulate nuclear reactor processes;
``(6) to coordinate with other research and development
programs of the Office of Nuclear Energy to ensure that
developed technologies and capabilities are part of an
integrated investment strategy, the overall focus of which is
improving the safety, security, reliability, and economics of
operating nuclear power plants; and
``(7) to focus on--
``(A) new capabilities relating to nuclear energy
research and development;
``(B) enabling technologies beyond individual
programs;
``(C) coordinating capabilities among the research
and development programs of the Office of Nuclear
Energy;
``(D) examining new classes of materials not
considered for nuclear applications;
``(E) high-risk research, which could potentially
overcome technological limitations; and
``(F) the potential for industry partnerships to
develop technologies relating to storage, hydrogen
production, high-temperature process heat, and other
relevant areas.''.
SEC. 5. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.
(a) In General.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 959A. NUCLEAR ENERGY STRATEGIC PLAN.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Energy
and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a 10-year strategic plan for the Office of Nuclear
Energy of the Department, in accordance with this section.
``(b) Requirements.--In developing the strategic plan under this
section, the Secretary shall specify expected timelines for, as
applicable--
``(1) the accomplishment of relevant objectives under
current programs of the Department; or
``(2) the commencement of new programs to accomplish those
objectives.
``(c) Updates.--Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an updated 10-
year strategic plan in accordance with subsection (b), which shall
identify, and provide a justification for, any major deviation from a
previous strategic plan submitted under this section.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 note) is amended in the table of contents by
inserting after the item relating to section 959 the following:
``Sec. 959A. Nuclear energy strategic plan.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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