ECA Alliance Update December 23, 2020

Image View this email in your browser ECA UPDATE Dec 23, 2020 FEATURED ADVANCED REACTORS Energy Department’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program Awards $20 million for Advanced Reactor Concepts DOE-NE | 12/22/2020 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $20 million in awards for the third of three programs under its new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has selected three teams to receive FY20 funding for the ARDP’s Advanced Reactor Concepts-20 (ARC-20) program. ARDP is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. DOE issued an ARDP funding opportunity announcement in May 2020 which included the ARC-20 awards, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration awards, and the Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration awards. For the ARC-20 projects, DOE expects to invest a total of approximately $56 million over four years with our industry partners providing at least 20 percent in matching funds. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! TEST REACTOR U.S. Department of Energy Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Versatile Test Reactor DOE-NE | 12/21/2020 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites the public to review and comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for construction of the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR). The proposed VTR would be a sodium-cooled fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear energy technologies. Continue reading >> LEGISLATION Congress passes massive energy package Politico | 12/22/2020 After a frantic final week of negotiations, Congress passed a sprawling Covid-19 and government funding package, delivering the most significant energy legislation in more than a dozen years and authorizing approximately $35 billion toward new energy technologies, Pro's Anthony Adragna reports. The energy legislation — lengthy in its own right — was tucked into a sprawling 5,593-page omnibus spending and coronavirus relief package, H.R. 133 (116), released Monday. Both the House and Senate passed the $900 billion pandemic relief bill and $1.4 trillion spending package to fund the government through September on Monday night. Continue reading >> CONTRACT DOE Awards Savannah River National Laboratory Management and Operating Contract DOE-EM | 12/22/2020 Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Management and Operating (M&O) contract to Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC (BSRA) of Columbus, OH. The Cost-Plus-Award-Fee contract will include a 5-year base period (inclusive of 120 day transition period) and potential award terms of up to 5 more years, for a total period of up to 10 years. The anticipated contract value is approximately $3.8 billion over the potential 10-year period of performance. The procurement was competed as a full-and-open competition, and EM received three proposals. The Department determined the BSRA proposal provided the best value to the Government considering Laboratory Vision, Key Personnel, Management and Operations, Past Performance, Transition Plan, and Cost and Fee. Continue reading >> IN OTHER NEWS LEGISLATIVE Trump Blasts COVID Relief Package, Demands Revisions Risking a Shutdown (Government Executive, 12/22) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT House plans Dec. 28 vote to override Trump's possible defense bill veto (The Hill, 12/21) TEST REACTOR Energy Department: Idaho Top Choice for New Test Reactor (U.S. News & World Report, 12/21) TECHNOLOGY Memorandum on the National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion (White House, 12/16) UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA 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 DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 USA © 2019 Energy Communities Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved.