WASHINGTON D.C. The following statement may be attributed to Nuclear Innovation Alliance Executive Director Judi Greenwald:
“We believe in the promise and potential of advanced nuclear energy, and we’re committed to working in partnership with others across the spectrum to build support for the development and deployment of advanced nuclear energy. We also know that in order for society to reap the benefits of advanced nuclear energy, we need the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to be as effective and efficient at licensing as possible.
“Yesterday the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security held a hearing on NRC oversight. We’re grateful to Committee Chair Rodgers, Ranking Member Pallone, Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan, and Ranking Member DeGette for their leadership in seeking stakeholder input and conducting this hearing. It’s helpful to see congressional leaders paying attention to the issues that we’ve been highlighting as most important to the success of advanced nuclear energy in the United States. For example, we recommend establishing an independent panel to conduct a comprehensive examination of NRC’s organizational effectiveness. We also recommend implementing reforms to improve the functioning of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS).”
“Congressional oversight to hold the NRC Commissioners accountable is an essential first step toward improving NRC performance. We were also pleased to see all five NRC Commissioners support improving NRC’s organizational effectiveness. We look forward to ongoing engagement from Congress matched with appropriate follow-up from the NRC to keep this important conversation moving forward.”
The Nuclear Innovation Alliance is a non-profit think-and-do-tank working to enable nuclear power as a global solution to mitigate climate change. Through policy analysis, research, and education, we are catalyzing the next era of nuclear energy. Our organization is funded primarily through charitable grants and philanthropic donations from climate-concerned individuals and organizations.