H.R. 9710

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9710 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9710

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to support a program to advance 
the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of 
small modular reactors and micro-reactors in order to accelerate the 
availability of United States-based technologies, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 19, 2024

Mr. Strong (for himself, Ms. Ross, and Mr. Aderholt) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to support a program to advance 
the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of 
small modular reactors and micro-reactors in order to accelerate the 
availability of United States-based technologies, 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.

This Act may be cited as the ``Small Modular Reactor Demonstration 
Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. SMALL MODULAR REACTOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

(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 new section:

``SEC. 959D. SMALL MODULAR REACTOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term `advanced nuclear 
reactor' has the meaning given such term in section 951 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271).
``(2) Demonstration project.--The term `demonstration 
project' means a small modular reactor or micro-reactor when 
operated as part of the power generation facilities of an 
electric utility system, or when operated in any other manner 
for the purpose of demonstrating the suitability for commercial 
application of such a reactor.
``(3) Micro-reactor.--The term `micro-reactor' means an 
advanced nuclear reactor that has an electric power production 
capacity that is not greater than 50 electrical megawatts.
``(4) Small modular reactor.--The term `small modular 
reactor' means an advanced nuclear reactor with a rated 
capacity that is not greater than 700 electrical megawatts per 
unit.
``(b) Program.--In collaboration with industry partners, owners and 
operators of electric utilities, institutions of higher education, and 
the national laboratories, the Secretary shall support a program to 
advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of small modular reactors and micro-reactors in order to 
accelerate the availability of United States-based technologies into 
domestic and international markets by carrying out the following:
``(1) Demonstrating a variety of small modular reactor and 
micro-reactor technologies, including those that could--
``(A) be used for power generation, processing 
steam or heat production, desalination, or other 
industrial and chemical uses;
``(B) be sited at locations not practicable for 
other new energy generation technologies as of the date 
of the enactment of this section;
``(C) offer distinct safeguards, security, or 
nonproliferation advantages;
``(D) use light water or non-light water coolants, 
such as gas, liquid metals, or molten salts;
``(E) supply remote or off-grid energy;
``(F) supply backup or mission-critical power 
supplies; or
``(G) supply power for data centers.
``(2) In coordination and furtherance of the Advanced 
Nuclear Energy Cost-Share Grant Program established pursuant to 
section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 
2017 (42 U.S.C. 16280), accelerating certification, licensing, 
and siting of domestic small modular reactor and micro-reactor 
designs through competitive awards to support design, 
licensing, supplier development, and site preparation of 
designs that can be deployed by not later than September 30, 
2034.
``(3) Reducing economic, technical, and regulatory barriers 
to deployment.
``(4) Identifying and resolving research, development, and 
demonstration areas that the private sector is unable or 
unwilling to undertake due to the cost of, or risks associated 
with, any of such areas.
``(5) Supporting small modular reactor and micro-reactor 
safety, training, and workforce development at institutions of 
higher education, including community colleges and trade 
schools.
``(6) Facilitating the access of the private sector to the 
following:
``(A) Federal research and development facilities 
and personnel.
``(B) National Laboratories.
``(C) The results of research and development 
relating to civil nuclear technology funded by the 
Federal Government.
``(c) Demonstration Projects.--In carrying out demonstration 
projects under the program described in subsection (b), the Secretary, 
in coordination with the advanced reactor demonstration program 
established under section 959A may, not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, award not more than two near 
term utility demonstration projects of grid scale small modular reactor 
technology in the United States to applicants with, to the maximum 
extent practicable, an expected orderbook of deployments or an early 
site permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an advanced 
nuclear reactor.
``(d) Requirements.--In carrying out demonstration projects under 
the program described in subsection (b) and in accordance with 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall--
``(1) require a non-Federal or utility cost share of not 
less than 50 percent for such demonstration projects pursuant 
to section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16352);
``(2) include, as an evaluation criterion, diversity in 
designs for the small modular reactors and micro-reactors 
demonstrated under such projects, including designs using 
various--
``(A) estimated capital investments, with emphases 
on reduced construction costs and durations as compared 
to other advanced nuclear reactors;
``(B) end-use applications;
``(C) output of wastes requiring disposal;
``(D) abilities to utilize recycled spent nuclear 
fuel;
``(E) technology readiness levels; and
``(F) abilities to be co-located on existing power 
plant sites;
``(3) to the maximum extent practicable, utilize 
technologies and lessons learned from the National Reactor 
Innovation Center of the Idaho National Laboratory and the 
Department of Defense's and Department of Energy's pilot 
program for micro-reactors, commonly known as `Project Pele'; 
and
``(4) to the maximum extent practicable, require adherence 
to milestone-based demonstration project authorities in 
accordance with section 9005 of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 
U.S.C. 7256c; division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260)).
``(e) Siting.--The Secretary shall select at least one 
demonstration project under subsection (c)(1) to be located on or 
adjacent to a site on which a nuclear reactor operates, previously 
operated, or could operate in the future with existing energy 
infrastructure, including current, former, or underutilized facilities 
on Federal property or in the custody and control of the Tennessee 
Valley Authority established under the Tennessee Valley Authority Act 
of 1933 (16 U.S.C. 831 et seq.).
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated the following:
``(1) For activities of the program established under 
subsection (b), $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2027.
``(2) For demonstration projects established under 
subsection (c), the following:
``(A) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(B) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(C) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(g) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on 
activities carried out under this section, including relating to the 
progress and timeline of demonstration projects under subsection 
(c).''.
(b) Small Modular Reactor Siting With Existing Infrastructure.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, as part of the program established 
under section 959D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (as added 
by subsection (a)), the Secretary of Energy shall identify 
priority sites for small modular reactors and micro-reactors 
(as such terms are defined in such section) at locations with 
existing energy infrastructure.
(2) Site selection.--The Secretary of Energy shall identify 
locations referred to in paragraph (1) by considering sites 
with the following attributes:
(A) Increased cost-effectiveness through measurable 
energy savings, water savings or reuse, or 
infrastructure costs averted from using existing energy 
infrastructure.
(B) Expected replicability at similar sites in a 
variety of geographic regions.
(C) The ability to supplement existing energy load.
(D) Relevant permitting, workforce, or transmission 
to accommodate completion of construction on an 
expedited timeline as compared to traditional nuclear 
power.
(E) Existing relationships with an electric utility 
provider.
(F) Existing Federal infrastructure or workforce 
presence with unique energy supply challenges.
(G) Efforts to obtain early site permits or other 
recognition from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
for suitability to deploy advanced nuclear 
technologies.
(3) Existing sites.--The Secretary of Energy shall include 
a list of Department of Energy sites or installations that are 
critical national security infrastructure (as such term is 
defined in section 327(d) of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-
232)) that are determined to be practical sites for small 
modular reactors and micro-reactors.
(4) Report.--The Secretary of Energy shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report on sites identified pursuant 
to this subsection.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
959C the following new item:

``Sec. 959D. Small modular reactor demonstration program.''.
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