U.S. Energy Department Unveils Strategy to Restore Nuclear Energy Leadership

The U.S. Energy Department on April 23 released a report by the Nuclear Fuel Working Group, which outlines a strategy for the U.S. to regain its global leadership in nuclear energy and technology. The report recommends potential actions to enhance the positive attributes of nuclear power, restore the viability of the nuclear-fuel cycle, strengthen U.S. technology advantages, and drive exports. The working group was created in July 2019 to review the domestic nuclear supply chain and develop recommendations for reviving and expanding production.

The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2021 budget request for the department includes $150 million to create a uranium reserve for ten years. The strategy is designed to restore America’s competitive nuclear advantages. On one hand, it ensures development in the nuclear energy sector to protect the interests of domestic nuclear enterprises. The strategy emphasizes the importance of a full domestic nuclear fuel cycle to meet defense needs and assure national security. On the other hand, it guides the U.S. to regain its position as a world leader in nuclear energy to state-owned enterprises, notably in Russia and China.

The strategy outlines multiple steps to reach the goal:

• First, the government will revive the uranium mining and conversion industries and restore the viability of the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle. It will also cultivate a world-class workforce to help the U.S. to compete in the international market.
• Second, the government will leverage innovation and nuclear research and development investments to consolidate its technical advances and strengthen its leadership in future nuclear energy technologies.
• Finally, the government will take a “whole-of-government approach” to support the nuclear energy industry to export civil nuclear technology and compete with state-owned enterprises in foreign countries.

Most nuclear energy industry stakeholders support the administration’s commitment. The Wyoming Mining Association commended the move, saying that a strong uranium mining industry is critical to U.S. clean energy goals and national defense. However, environmentalists worry that the uranium mining process will pose health threats and violate environmental laws and regulations. Geoff Fettus, a senior attorney for Natural Resources Defense Council called it “a wasteful solution in search of a problem,” noting that the U.S. gets much of its uranium from allies like Canada and Australia and there is no national security reason to protect the polluting industry.