The US Senate overwhelmingly passed a legislative package
aimed at strengthening the country's nuclear energy sector, an industry
considered crucial given the aging of many of the plants currently in
operation. The measure was combined with another bill that renews the
authorization of the US Fire Administration, as well as several federal grant
programs for fire departments.
The initiative seeks to expedite the procedures for
authorizing the construction of new nuclear power plants, an objective that
lawmakers from both parties consider necessary to guarantee long-term energy
capacity. Among the provisions included is a reduction in the license fees that
electric utilities must pay to begin such developments.
The legislation also directs the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission to prepare a report evaluating possible ways to simplify and
expedite environmental review processes, considered one of the main obstacles
to launching new projects.
The legislation must now go to the House of Representatives
before moving toward potential enactment.