Statement: Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Leadership Act Would Help the U.S. Win the Global Race to Build and Fuel the Reactors of Tomorrow

BETHESDA, Md.  — Centrus Energy Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Poneman made the following statement about the “Nuclear Energy Leadership Act,” which was introduced today by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators:

“This practical, bipartisan legislation would leverage American innovation so that we can lead the way in building and fueling the next generation of advanced reactors here at home and around the world.  Reclaiming America’s position as a major supplier of commercial nuclear technologies through the deployment of advanced reactors and fuel would create high-wage, clean energy jobs while supporting our energy security and nonproliferation efforts.

“In addition to accelerating the deployment of first-of-a-kind reactor technologies, the bill recognizes the importance of developing a domestic supply chain that can meet commercial as well as national security requirements for advanced nuclear fuel.  America’s advanced reactor developers would be at a huge disadvantage if there is no domestic source of fuel for their reactors, especially since their competitors are backed by large, state-owned nuclear fuel enterprises.

“We applaud Senator Murkowski, Senator Booker, and their long list of co-sponsors in both parties for this important initiative.  The Nuclear Energy Leadership Act has already won strong, bipartisan backing, and we hope that Congress and the Administration will move quickly to enact it.”

The legislation is sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Cory Booker, and co-sponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander, Michael Bennet, Shelley Moore Capito, Chris Coons, Mike Crapo, Tammy Duckworth, Cory Gardner, Lindsay Graham, Joe Manchin, James Risch, Dan Sullivan, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rob Portman.