ANS Nuclear Policy Wire February 28, 2020

February 28, 2020

Brouillette takes budget to the Hill, and other nuclear policy news Yesterday afternoon Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette testified on the proposed FY2021 DOE budget before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (EWD). You can view the hearing here. Secretary Brouillette's next stop with the budget request will be before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee on March 3.    Also on March 3, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Rita Baranwal will testify in front of the House EWD Appropriations Subcommittee. The hearing will dive deeper into DOE's FY2021 budget requests for applied energy programs.   The DOE recently released another round of FY2021 Budget Justification documents in preparation for these hearings. A more in-depth look can be found here.   Yesterday the Senate ENR Committee introduced the American Energy Innovation Act, and it's shaping up to be the best chance this year for passing legislation to expand uses of clean energy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hopes to bring the 550-page, 50-bill package to the Senate floor as early as next week. The package includes the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act, which would authorize R&D programs on advanced nuclear reactors and fuels.