FIA Endorses Passage of Atomic Energy Advancement Act

On February 28, 2024, the House of Representatives will vote on passage of H.R.6544, the bipartisan Atomic Energy Advancement Act sponsored by Representatives Duncan and DeGette that would seek to reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The legislation includes the Fusion Energy Act of 2023, added as an amendment during the committee consideration of the bill by Representatives Lori Trahan and Jay Obernolte.

The Fusion Energy Act would amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to add a new definition of “fusion machines” as particle accelerators. That clarification would confirm in law the unanimous, bipartisan decision that the Commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) made in April 2023 determining that fusion would be regulated separately from nuclear fission.

The FIA understands that there will be changes to the text of the fusion portions of the legislation as it is reconciled with Senate-passed legislation, and the FIA has worked with House and Senate staff to ensure that these changes provide the most clarity and regulatory certainty to industry, while also protecting public safety and security.  

The FIA has consistently supported regulatory and legislative efforts to provide certainty in the regulation of fusion energy. The FIA supports efforts to permanently and completely separate the regulation of fusion energy from the regulation of fission. The FIA endorses passage of the Atomic Energy Advancement Act when it is considered on February 28, and looks forward to working with Members of Congress to see it enacted into law. The letter FIA sent to the House Energy and Commerce Committee is embedded below.