Rep. Byron Donalds has introduced legislation aimed at codifying four executive actions taken by President Donald Trump related to boosting nuclear energy production and use in the United States.
Trump signed the orders late last month, focusing on accelerating nuclear development and deployment. The “Strengthening American Nuclear Energy Act” seeks to implement the following measures:
* Establish artificial intelligence data centers that run on nuclear energy at Department of Energy facilities
* Pursue at least 20 new international nuclear cooperation agreements
* Develop methods and techniques for transporting used and unused nuclear fuel
* Update nuclear energy policies to spur production
The bill also includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory burdens surrounding nuclear energy production. It seeks to reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to accelerate domestic nuclear energy production, while also revising internal procedures at the Energy Department to speed up nuclear reactor development.
However, some experts have raised concerns about Trump’s reforms, citing potential safety risks and a lack of scientific foundation. Ernest Moniz, an Obama-era energy secretary and nuclear physicist, warned that reorganizing the NRC could lead to hasty deployment of advanced reactors with safety and security flaws. Paul Dickman, a former senior staffer on the NRC, agreed, stating that Trump’s reforms have “no scientific foundation.”
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-republicans-bill-would-make-trump-orders-permanent-bid-us-dominance-key-industry