2018
Supported Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act
In 2018, with support from CATF, Congress passed the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA), which directs the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to prioritize partnerships with private innovators to test and demonstrate advanced reactor concepts. It also authorizes the creation of a National Reactor Innovation Center that brings together the technical expertise of the National Labs and DOE to enable the construction of experimental reactors. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would partner with DOE in this effort, which would enable the NRC to contribute its expertise on safety issues while also learning about the new technologies developed through the Center. This measure strengthens the ability of National Laboratories to partner with private industry to prove the principles behind their ideas. CATF helped to pass this piece of bipartisan legislation.