Murkowski: Trio of Bills Support All of the Above Energy Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for three proposals that would advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy by removing restrictions on the use of alternative fuels and promoting development of small modular nuclear reactors.
Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is a cosponsor of all three bills, which were heard before the committee Tuesday.
“Prioritizing the use of all of the domestic natural resources is especially appropriate given the events of the past several months,” Murkowski said. “A true all-of-the-above energy policy should include everything that America has to advance our goal of greater energy security.”
Two of the measures discussed at the hearing would promote the development of small modular nuclear reactors:
- The Nuclear Power 2021 Act, S. 512, would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require implementation of development and demonstration programs for two small modular nuclear reactor designs.
- S. 1067 would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development and demonstration program to reduce manufacturing and construction costs related to nuclear reactors.
“Small modular reactors have lower upfront costs, increased safety, siting flexibility, and could be manufactured domestically,” Murkowski said. “The use of small modular reactors deserves serious consideration as we discuss how we look at the role nuclear power should play in meeting our power needs.”
The third bill, the American Alternative Fuels Act, S. 937, would repeal certain barriers to domestic fuel production, including Section 526 of the 2007 energy bill, which unnecessarily restricts the types of alternative fuels the federal government – and particularly our military – can pursue.
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