U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito recently delivered the keynote address at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Regulatory Information Conference in Washington, D.C. As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, she addressed key issues surrounding nuclear innovation and industry challenges.
Senator Capito highlighted the historical context of nuclear energy in the U.S., referencing President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative. She stated, “Building on President Eisenhower’s ‘Atoms for Peace’ vision, Congress recognized the tremendous opportunity for atomic energy, and declared it a vital part of our common defense and security, and that is no different today.”
Addressing current challenges faced by the NRC, she remarked on inefficiencies within licensing processes: “Licensing actions are taking longer and are more costly, while the technology and experience has increased… The Agency is dedicating fewer of its staff and resources to actual licensing work.” She emphasized that regulations need updating to keep pace with technological advancements.
On energy reliability, Senator Capito stressed nuclear energy’s role in ensuring both reliability and affordability: “We really need more baseload… Nuclear must and will be part of the solution.”
The ADVANCE Act was another focal point of her speech. She described it as offering policies to streamline regulatory processes: “The ADVANCE Act really gives a suite of policies… We must be ready to license new technologies for new uses.”
Senator Capito urged stakeholders to capitalize on current momentum in nuclear development: “I would encourage everybody in this room to really build on the momentum that we have… we have to have the regulatory environment to be able to move forward.”
