Energy Department Announces $900M for Modular Nuclear Reactor Projects
This week, the Department of Energy announced plans to allocate up to $900 million for the deployment of small nuclear reactors in the United States. The funding will be directed towards Generation III nuclear plants, which are modular and incorporate enhanced safety features.
According to Spectrum News, about 19% of the country’s electricity is generated with nuclear power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. There are currently 54 commercially operating nuclear power plants in the country operating in 28 states.
This week’s nuclear power funding announcement is part of “the largest sustained push to support civil nuclear deployment in the United States in nearly five decades,” the department said in a statement.
Spurring the development of new reactor technologies domestically is a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s climate policy, which has set a goal of 100% clean electricity generation by 2035.
