Issue Summary
Nuclear energy is a key component of the nation’s energy mix. It accounts for about 20% of the electricity generated in the United States and about half of its carbon-free electricity. As our nation’s demand for energy is expected to grow in the coming decades, policymakers have supported the continued operations of existing nuclear power plants and the development of new plants.
A Nuclear Power Plant with Cooling Towers and Related Facilities
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Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have key responsibilities related to nuclear energy. Specifically, DOE seeks to advance nuclear energy through research and development activities; it is also responsible for siting, building, and operating a geologic repository to dispose of high-level nuclear waste. The NRC licenses nuclear power plants, certifies designs, and oversees their safe operation and security.
However, both DOE and NRC could better address key issues related to nuclear energy research and development, safety and security, and waste management.
For instance:
- DOE supports research to develop advanced nuclear energy technologies, such as small modular reactors and microreactors. For example, DOE is helping to build and operate the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a first-of-its-kind research facility in France, to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy. However, since 2006, DOE’s estimated cost for the U.S. portion of ITER has grown by billions of dollars, and the project’s estimated completion date has slipped by 20 years. DOE should propose a final, stable funding plan for U.S. contributions to this project.
- As industry continues to develop advanced nuclear technologies, NRC expects to see a significant increase in the number of applications for advanced reactors in the coming years. NRC has begun updating its regulations and processes to include these reactors—but has had difficulty hiring and retaining the staff needed to license them.
- The safety and security of nuclear power plants has received renewed attention since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2011 disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. NRC has revised some of its safety and security processes and requirements, but it continues to face challenges in protecting against cyber threats.
- Commercial spent nuclear fuel—radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants—can pose serious risks to humans and the environment. DOE is responsible for disposing of commercial spent nuclear fuel at a permanent geologic repository, but has yet to build such a facility. As a result, more than 85,000 metric tons of this waste is being stored at nuclear power plants across the country in spent fuel pools or dry casks. Meanwhile, the federal government has paid billions in damages to utilities for failing to dispose of this waste, and may potentially have to pay tens of billions more in coming decades.
Spent Nuclear Fuel Pool (Left) and Spent Nuclear Fuel Dry Casks (Right)
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Source: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
