Energy Communities Alliance ECA Update September 24, 2020

 

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ECA UPDATE Sep 24, 2020

FEATURED REACTOR TECHNOLOGIES   Energy Department Green Lights Critical Decision 1 for Versatile Test Reactor Project DOE-NE | 9/23/2020   The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it has approved Critical Decision 1 for the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) project, a one-of-a-kind scientific user facility that would support research and development of innovative nuclear energy and other technologies.   Critical Decision 1, known as “Approve Alternative Selection and Cost Range,” is the second step in the formal process DOE uses to review and manage research infrastructure projects. As part of Critical Decision 1, federal committees reviewed the conceptual design, schedule, and cost range, and analyzed potential alternatives. DOE also issued a Notice of Intent to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for VTR, which was published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2019, as part of Critical Decision 1 activities. The VTR project now moves to the engineering design phase as soon as Congress appropriates funding. DOE has requested $295 million for FY 2021 for the project.   Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! LEGISLATION   New House legislation would create spent nuclear fuel R&D program Daily Energy Insider | 9/23/2020   As part of the Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Research and Development Act (H.R. 8258) introduced to the House by U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) this week, a new spent nuclear fuel research and development program would be launched at the Department of Energy.   Starting with a budget of $500 million, spread out over five years, the program would investigate options for dry cask storage, consolidated interim storage, deep geological storage and disposal, and used nuclear fuel transportation.   Continue reading >> UPCOMING EVENTS Nov. 12  ECA Advancing Alliances: Post-Election with ECOS; Virtual ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation   Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World   Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.    View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES  Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles   ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.    Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles

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