Palmetto State News

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has garnered support from a variety of South Carolina and national stakeholders for his Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act. The proposed legislation aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by eliminating outdated processes currently required when reviewing new nuclear reactor applications.

Michael Flannigan, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute, expressed his support, stating, “We commend Senators Chris Coons and Tim Scott for introducing the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearing Act. This bipartisan measure underscores the pressing need to streamline the NRC’s reactor licensing process for the generation of reliable, clean nuclear power.” He added that removing the outdated requirement for uncontested mandatory hearings held by the Commission will expedite deployment of vital next-generation nuclear technologies critical for energy independence and climate goals.

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams echoed these sentiments. She stated that deploying more nuclear energy is crucial to a strategy that lowers global emissions, but noted that the current process to build a new nuclear power plant is outdated. “CRES is proud to support Sen. Tim Scott’s bipartisan Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act,” she said.

Niko McMurray, ClearPath Action’s Managing Director of International and Nuclear Policy, also voiced support for the bill, emphasizing that an efficient and predictable licensing process is key for companies considering new nuclear technologies.

The United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear Power co-founder Brian McCormack lauded the legislation as well. He highlighted how it provides common-sense reforms to the NRC as it faces a growing volume of applications from advanced reactor community.

Judi Greenwald, Executive Director of Nuclear Innovation Alliance, praised Senators Chis Coons and Tim Scott's initiative as well. She noted that by removing duplicative processes and procedures, this bill streamlines licensing while allowing robust public engagement.

Adam Stein, Director of Nuclear Energy and Innovation at The Breakthrough Institute, said that mandatory hearings increase NRC Staff hours by 5-15% beyond necessary safety and environmental reviews. He explained that many of these hearings are uncontested and often involve rehashing already-examined topics. Stein asserted that the proposed legislation will allow the NRC to focus resources on critical efforts without interfering with public engagement.

Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy, applauded the Congressional initiative to increase the efficiency of new reactor licensing. He emphasized the need to scale the deployment of advanced reactors to meet growing demand for clean, reliable, affordable energy.