The Biden-Harris Administration has taken decisive action to establish a U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain to strengthen the nation’s economic, climate, and national security priorities.
April 19, 2024
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Over the last several years, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken decisive action to establish a U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain to strengthen the nation’s economic, climate, and national security priorities.
A reliable uranium supply chain is essential to powering the world’s largest fleet of 93 commercial reactors in the U.S., producing life-saving medical isotopes, and deploying new advanced reactors that can spark job creation and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in communities across the country.
However, current U.S. dependence on Russian-sourced nuclear materials and fuels undermines the security of this supply chain, which is why the Administration has taken the following actions to sever these ties and expand the nation’s capacity to produce low-enriched uranium — including high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced reactors.
Reestablishing the Domestic Nuclear Industry
Establishing a reliable, domestic nuclear fuel supply chain is a key part to the Administration’s larger efforts to reassert leadership in the nuclear energy sector both at home and abroad.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), along with tax incentives and programs through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the U.S. has built a wave of momentum that will swiftly and competitively help meet President Biden’s clean energy objectives, which includes tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
Some major highlights include:
- $6 billion in BIL funding to prevent the premature retirement of operating reactors across the country. This includes a $1.1 billion conditional award of credits to extend operations at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant an additional 5 years, preserving hundreds of jobs at the plant.
- $2.5 billion in BIL funding to support the demonstration of X-energy’s Xe-100 high temperature gas reactor and TerraPower’s Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor by the early 2030s.
- $1.52 billion in a conditional commitment loan guarantee through the IRA-created Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program to help upgrade and re-power the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan by 2025.
- $2.72 billion appropriated in the FY24 spending bill to establish and expand enrichment and conversion services to meet nuclear fuel requirements for the U.S. and its allies.
- $800 million to demonstrate two advanced light-water small modular reactor systems