Press Releases

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) introduced the Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act. This legislation would improve the licensing review process for future nuclear projects in the United States by establishing updated procedures and timelines for reviewing nuclear licensing applications. Upon the bill’s introduction, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

"An all-of-the-above strategy is critical to reclaiming American energy dominance, and as the nation’s largest source of clean energy, nuclear has a pivotal role to play. With the first two new nuclear reactors built in over three decades in the United States located at Plant Vogtle, Georgia’s 12th District is leading our nation’s nuclear future. Additionally, a critical factor in Georgia’s status as the number one state to do business is our reliable and low-cost energy.

"However, as we saw through the construction process, nuclear projects in the U.S. are often bogged down by burdensome licensing and permitting processes that result in unnecessary delays and cost overruns. That is why I am proud to introduce the Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act, which seeks to modernize the inefficient procedures that hamper our nuclear energy expansion. Let’s make sure we incorporate best practices learned from this huge accomplishment at Plant Vogtle, so that we might fully embrace the reliability of 24/7 nuclear energy."

Specifically, the Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act:

• Provides efficient, timely, and predictable reviews of applications and proceedings for licenses of nuclear reactors
• Allows information that was used in the licensing process for an existing nuclear reactor site to be used in further licensing and permitting at that site
• Establishes a timeframe of once every three years to update performance metrics and milestone schedules to be the most efficient possible