Legislation supporting nuclear development in Pennsylvania passed through the General Assembly this week and is headed to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro
The legislation, H.B. 2017, would make the construction of smaller, more efficient nuclear reactors more affordable in Pennsylvania. Sponsored by state Reps. Reps. Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia), Nate Davidson, (D-Cumberland), Joe McAndrew, (D-Allegheny), and Elizabeth Fiedler, (D-Philadelphia), the legislation updates the state’s fee structure for nuclear energy site operators to reflect how small modular reactors and micro reactors differ from traditional light-water reactors.
“Pennsylvania has long been a national energy leader,” Giral said. “I am proud to see the General Assembly committed to ensuring our laws respond to and reflect energy technology as it evolves. The up-front capital needed to build new traditional reactors is prohibitively expensive and this bill meets the moment by recognizing SMR development as the next important step in nuclear development and updating our current fee structure to make it more affordable for SMR developers to build here.”
Traditional light-water reactors have sprawling footprints with multiple reactors per site that require extensive time and money to build and operate, lawmakers said. Smaller reactors require more, smaller sites, with fewer reactors per site, which allows them to be built in areas with less access to existing power grids. Their smaller size also allows them to be factory-built, rather than built on-site, allowing them to be built in areas where large-scale construction is harder. Technological developments make these smaller reactors more efficient, officials said.
“Nuclear energy provides a critical piece of Pennsylvania’s baseload capacity, and SMRs must be a part of the commonwealth’s energy future,” Davidson said. “Our largest trading partner, Canada, is actively building the first SMR for grid energy production in a G7 country. This important legislation sets the stage for Pennsylvania to be a national leader in SMR construction, opening the door to even closer economic ties with our neighbors to the north.”
The legislation would update the Radiation Protection Act of 1984 to add definitions for small modular reactors and micro reactors and to distinguish them from traditional light-water reactors, while creating a new fee structure for the smaller reactors, and directing the Environmental Quality Board to determine reasonable fees for SMR sites.
“This bill levels the playing field for nuclear innovation in Pennsylvania. As we look at energy to diversify our grid, this is an opportunity to allow new technology to flourish, resulting in lower energy costs. We’re making it clear that our commonwealth is ready for next-generation energy,” McAndrew said.
The legislation now moves on to Shapiro’s desk for signing.