Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act

Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act

This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to revise the objectives for the civilian nuclear energy research and development programs of the Department of Energy (DOE).

DOE shall carry out a specified program to enhance U.S. capabilities to develop new reactor technologies and related systems technologies through high-performance computation modeling and simulation techniques.

DOE shall: (1) determine the mission need for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, which shall operate as a national user facility; and (2) submit a plan to Congress for establishment of such a facility.

DOE may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to establish a National Nuclear Innovation Center that:

• enables the testing and demonstration of reactor concepts to be proposed and funded by the private sector,
• establishes and operates a database to store and share data and knowledge on nuclear science between federal agencies and private industry, and
• establishes capabilities to develop and test reactor electric and nonelectric integration and energy conversion systems.

DOE shall submit to Congress three alternative 10-year budget plans for civilian nuclear energy research and development.

The NRC shall report to Congress on:

• the extent to which it is capable of licensing advanced reactor designs developed under this bill by the end of a specified four-year period, and
• any organizational or institutional barriers it will need to overcome to be able to license such designs.