New comprehensive climate legislation includes nuclear energy and workforce policies ECA Staff

New comprehensive climate legislation includes nuclear energy and workforce policies ECA Staff | 3/3/2021 Yesterday the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled a new comprehensive bill aimed at combatting climate change by investing in clean energy programs. The CLEAN Future Act would include nuclear energy in the mix of clean energy programs, such as grants to make progress advance nuclear technologies and funding to strengthen the nuclear workforce. Notable provisions include: Sec. 244. LONG-TERM NUCLEAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT PILOT PROGRAM. Establishes a pilot program requiring DOE to enter into at least one long-term power purchase agreement to purchase electricity generated from advanced nuclear power technologies. Sec. 204. DETERMINATION AND ISSUANCE OF QUANTITY OF ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRICITY CREDITS. “The Administrator shall assign a carbon intensity of zero for any generating unit of a generator that does not produce direct emissions of any greenhouse gas in generating electric energy, including any generating unit that generates electric energy only through the use of solar, wind, ocean, current, wave, tidal, geothermal, nuclear energy, or hydropower technology…” Sec. 234. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SUPPORT TO REPOWER COMMUNITIES. Establishes an EPA grant program to remediate sites formerly home to a fossil fuel-powered generating unit. “The Administrator shall prioritize awarding grants to eligible entities who intend to develop or deploy clean energy projects…” Nuclear energy is included in the definition of a clean energy project. Sec. 504. CLEAN ENERGY MANUFACTURING GRANT PROGRAM. Authorizes $10 billion, to remain available until expended, to provide grants to reequip, expand, and establish facilities to support manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components. “Advanced nuclear energy technologies” are included in the eligible projects. Sec. 824. ENERGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. Requires the Secretary of Energy, through the Director, to establish a comprehensive, nationwide program to improve education and training for energy-related jobs to increase the number of skilled and trained workers. Directs the Secretary to provide direct assistance through financial assistance, technical assistance, and training opportunities with prioritization of underrepresented communities. Directs the Secretary to develop guidelines and a clearinghouse for energy-related workforce resources. Requires the Secretary to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in carrying out the program. Authorizes $20 million per year from FY 2022-2031. The workforce guidelines are to include jobs in “the nuclear energy industry, including jobs as scientists, engineers, technicians, mathematicians, and security personnel…” Sec. 825. ENERGY WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a program to provide grants for eligible businesses to pay the wages of new and existing employees during the time period that such employees receive training to work in the renewable energy sector. An “eligible business” includes businesses that provide services related to “nuclear energy, including research, development, demonstration, and commercial application relating to nuclear energy.” The full bill text is available here, and a one-pager is available here. https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/CFA%20Bill%20Text%202021.pdf https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/CLEAN%20Future%20Act%20One-Pager%20FINAL.pdf