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The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandates that the Department of Energy (DOE) establish a Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program to allocate $6 billion in “credits” (subsidies) to uneconomical nuclear reactors whose closures would result in higher greenhouse gas emissions.
To be clear, this is a bad bailout. This multi-billion dollar program should instead be invested in clean, renewable energy, NOT dirty and expensive nuclear reactors. And, if DOE does it’s job right, it will find that NO reactor in the country qualifies to receive these bailouts. The DOE has never designed or implemented a credit program of this nature, and unscrupulous nuclear corporations are eager to get their hands on this money, whether they qualify or not. So, it’s important that DOE takes care to ensure integrity in the allocation of federal dollars for this program.
The DOE must slow down and ensure their multi-billion dollar CNC subsidy program is accountable, transparent, and scrupulous. Submit your comments today!
Under the law, to be eligible to receive credits, nuclear reactors must meet three criteria:
The DOE has never designed or implemented a credit program of this nature, so it’s important that they take into consideration the following before launching a multi-billion dollar nuclear bailout:
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA or the Act) directs the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to establish a Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program to evaluate and certify nuclear reactors that are projected to cease operations due to economic factors and to allocate credits to selected certified nuclear reactors via a sealed bid process. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is issuing this NOI to notify interested parties of DOE's intent to solicit applications for certification of nuclear reactors for eligibility to submit of sealed bids for CNC Program credits from nuclear reactor owners or operators that are at risk of ceasing operations due to economic factors and intent to request sealed bids from certified reactors for allocation of available credits. The NOI provides an opportunity for interested parties to submit to the Department a non-binding notice of their interest in submitting a confidential application for the CNC Program. The Department also seeks input from all stakeholders through this RFI regarding the establishment of a CNC Program including the application, certification, and selection processes.
Written comments and information are requested on or before March 17, 2022. The Department intends to develop initial draft guidance for the certification applications during the NOI/RFI comment period. It is strongly preferred that respondents comment on issues affecting certification directly via the email address below by March 8, 2022. Comments relating to the certification received after this date may not be included guidance development.
Interested parties may submit comments by any of the following methods:
1. Email: rfi-cnc@nuclear.energy.gov (Strongly Preferred). Submit electronic comments in Microsoft Word or PDF file format and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Please include “Response to RFI” in the subject line.
2. Online: www.regulations.gov. Submit all electronic public comments to www.regulations.gov. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
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