President Donald Trump signed the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) on January 14.

The bipartisan bill aims to reform the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) fee structure and directs the Commission to develop a streamlined licensing process for advanced reactor designs.

“The Office of Nuclear Energy applauds President Trump and Congress for its continued support in advancing nuclear energy,” said Ed McGinnis, the principal deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. “We look forward to working with the NRC to help accelerate the deployment of new advanced reactors that are coming down the pipeline.”

This is the second nuclear energy bill signed into law in the last five months. President Trump signed the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act in September to help eliminate some of the financial and technological barriers standing in the way of nuclear innovation.

Other legislation to monitor includes the bipartisan Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), which focuses on authorizing long-term power purchase agreements for nuclear power. NELA also calls for new advanced reactor demonstration projects and the development of a HALEU fuel supply chain.  

NELA is expected to be reintroduced this Congress.