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In the past three years, nine U.S. states enacted legislation to fully decarbonize the electricity sector by 2050 or sooner.[1] Three of those state laws require 85-100 percent reductions in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions. At least 29 U.S. electric and gas utilities have pledged to reduce CO2 or GHG emissions by similar amounts.[2] Earlier this year, President Biden proposed a target of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.

Just as existing nuclear power plants provide the bedrock for our modern clean energy infrastructure, developing the infrastructure to commercialize advanced nuclear technologies will allow the United States to finish the task of decarbonization while providing high-paying jobs. Advanced nuclear energy is critical infrastructure. U.S. investment in developing new reactor technologies is needed to unlock economic, environmental, social, and national security benefits for the United States and the world in the 21st century.

The Energy Act of 2020, passed in December 2020 as part of the Omnibus, is the most sweeping piece of energy legislation enacted in more than a decade. Built on years of work by Congressional leaders, staff, and stakeholders, the Act combines multiple bills across the energy sector.

The balance of peer-reviewed literature, international energy organizations, and national energy policies are unequivocal: nuclear is a carbon-free energy source with an important role to play in decarbonizing the global economy.

The Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) supports the proposed Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act (NERDA) that was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. In early March, this bipartisan bill passed the Energy Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. It is expected to go before the full committee soon. NIA appreciates the leadership by cosponsors, Representative Conor Lamb (PA) and Representative Dan Newhouse (WA), as well as the efforts of the subcommittee.