Laurentis Energy Partners’ Post

Exciting news! I am thrilled to share that an article coauthored with the Chairperson of #FELEX, Wolfram Tonhauser, has been published in the Nuclear Law Bulletin of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. The article explores my vision on how #contracts and #procurement can pave the path towards a human(ity)-centred #fusion technology. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dssQ2zTV

While the world of litigation doesn’t typically inspire the most gripping of headlines, the involvement of the U.S. Supreme Court in the determination of the NRC’s ability to license waste storage sites is a major banner issue for the nuclear industry. This particular problem has dogged waste management strategies for decades, the implications of which have contributed to the constraint of the industry as a whole. With a decision expected mid-2025, we may see the expiration of a generational roadblock to nuclear power’s deployment prospects. It may not be the primary driver slowing the industry, but it represents yet another legacy complication likely to join the dust-heap of bygone misperceptions about nuclear energy. The tide continues to turn. #nuclear #nuclearpower #nuclearenergy #cleanenergy #energy #power #industry #supremecourt #nuclearwaste

"In early July, President Biden signed the ADVANCE Act into law, designed to support development of advanced nuclear reactors by, among other actions, directing the industry’s top watchdog, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to reduce license application fees and bolster staffing to speed up reviews. Other examples include $2.5 billion to support advanced reactor development via the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $700 million to develop a fuel supply for advanced reactors from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act." https://lnkd.in/dmZ-Ua-D

Did you see the news? Last week the ADVANCE Act (Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy) was signed into law. This bipartisan legislation is designed to help support the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies through increased investment, streamlined regulatory processes, and workforce development and training. The transition to a cleaner energy future continues rapidly. https://lnkd.in/e7CU359h

https://lnkd.in/eB_iXA8T If nuclear power will enter the long-promised renaissance, this issue bears close watch. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a dispute over whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has the authority to issue licenses for nuclear waste storage facilities, mainly focusing on two temporary storage sites in West Texas and New Mexico. This comes after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the NRC overstepped its authority under federal law. The states of Texas and New Mexico and oil industry groups are challenging the NRC's facilities licensing, citing environmental risks and economic concerns related to the nearby Permian Basin, a major oil-producing region. The case revolves around the broader issue of how the U.S. handles its growing stockpile of nuclear waste, which currently lacks a permanent storage solution after the Yucca Mountain project was halted. The Supreme Court's decision could reshape how the federal government handles nuclear waste and influence the regulatory authority of federal agencies. A ruling is expected by mid-2025 Additional context: Today, spent nuclear fuels are stored on the pads where former nuclear plants were decommissioned and demolished. Many of these sites have the potential for beneficial redevelopment as future clean energy platforms or manufacturing. Consolidating these smaller fuel sites into one location would enable that development. Why is this spot being considered? The unique geotechnical properties of this area in TX and NM make it a near-ideal for the potential storage of spent fuel materials. The groundwater is very far from the surface, and the clay that makes the foundation of this area is nearly impermeable. The population density is extremely low, and the facilities are adjacent to an existing radioactive material storage site, albeit not a spent nuclear fuel storage area, that has operated safely for decades.

Focusing only on legal challenges related to nuclear safety, the aim of this report is to provide insights into the frameworks for legal challenges related to nuclear safety and, without making any general recommendations, identify commonalities and differences that contribute to different countries’ approaches. https://lnkd.in/gz2u4kHe

US President Biden signs advanced nuclear development bill #bne #bneEditorsPicks #nuclear #renewables #ClimateCrisis #ESG US President Joe Biden has signed into law the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, aimed at reducing licensing times and cutting processing fees to support the development of advanced nuclear reactors, S&P Global reported on July 11. The US Senate passed Senate Bill 870 in an 88-2 vote on June 18, with the House passing a companion bill with similar bipartisan support. On July 9, Biden praised the legislation as a "win for American energy security, innovation and achieving economywide, net-zero emissions by 2050," noting that the new law would help deliver clean power and create union jobs.

"“This is the first regulatory framework developed for advanced technologies and designs that includes non-light-water reactors,” the NRC underscored on Monday. So far, 92 of the nation’s commercially operating nuclear reactors at the nation’s 54 nuclear plants have been licensed under 10 CFR Part 50, a historical two-part process involving a construction permit and an operating license as the plant approaches completion. In the 1990s, the NRC approved a second pathway, 10 CFR Part 52, which allowed an applicant to receive a combined license for construction and operation, with optional steps such as a reactor vendor applying for approval of a reactor design or builders applying for a site permit. Vogtle 3 and 4 became the first two reactors licensed under Part 52. (For more, see POWER’s explainer here.) Part 53, as prescribed by NEIMA, is meant to offer a “voluntary” alternative to advanced nuclear applicants under a framework that would be technology-inclusive (applicable to all reactor technologies); risk-informed (using information from risk assessments to focus safety analyses on important issues); and performance-based (to ensure plants are regulated based on how they perform and not just how they are designed)." Much more detail in the article...

“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has directed its staff to publish a proposed rule and draft guidance to create Part 53, a much-awaited risk-informed and technology-inclusive licensing framework geared toward advanced technologies, including non-light-water-reactors (non-LWRs)” To be used around the world but not in Australia until our bans are lifted on safe, reliable, clean and cost effective next generation nuclear reactors.

How does the ADVANCE Act aim to provide a major boost to the future of nuclear energy in the United States? Public Utilities Fortnightly interviewed Balch’s Stan Blanton about the anticipated impacts of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act (ADVANCE Act), a bipartisan law aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. Stan, Managing Partner and Chair of the firm’s Nuclear Energy Practice, highlighted how the ADVANCE Act leverages America's extensive experience in developing commercial nuclear projects as a key component of its licensing provisions. Talking about the future of nuclear energy, Stan added, “I am optimistic. You don't have to look any further to judge that than our law firm. We're doubling down on the hiring of nuclear lawyers, we're trying to expand our nuclear practice, and we wouldn't be doing that if we didn't think there were going to be additional plants developed.” Stan is recognized as one of the nation’s leading lawyers in nuclear regulation and policy. #BalchLeads #NuclearEnergy Read Stan’s interview: https://direc.to/mgww