NEI's Maria Korsnick on Nuclear Energy's Policy Priorities

What's on the nuclear energy industry's public policy agenda for 2020? NEI's Maria Korsnick, along with the leaders of a number of other environmental/advocacy groups responded to that question from the folks at Utility Dive. I've excerpted Maria's answers below:

States should accelerate the move toward clean energy standards. More states must adopt clean energy standards that combine nuclear and other carbon-free sources to rapidly, reliably and affordably cut emissions.

Today, more than half the states in the U.S. have adopted renewable portfolio standards that don't value all carbon-free technologies. However, as states set more aggressive de-carbonization goals, they are increasingly moving toward technology-neutral clean energy standards.

Market reforms that value all carbon-free generation sources. An uneven playing field exists, creating environments where markets do not adequately value what nuclear plants do well — produce reliable, carbon-free power around the clock.

In merchant markets, price is the only determining factor. When markets only focus on price, they drive out carbon-free generation. Market distortions contributed to the early closure of two nuclear reactors in 2019, further jeopardizing state efforts to reduce carbon.

As the nation's largest source of carbon-free generation, we need to keep our operating nuclear plants, successfully complete the construction of the new reactors at Vogtle, and accelerate private-public partnerships to demonstrate and deliver new nuclear technologies to market.

Stronger export credit financing programs and approaches. From a national security perspective, export financing is a critical priority. We need long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank and stronger approaches to export credit financing to compete in this global market.

Our nuclear energy companies have to compete with countries; U.S. nuclear suppliers compete against state-owned and -supported enterprises in countries like Russia and China. Nearly two-thirds of the reactors being built around the world are of Chinese and Russian design. These projects will help Russia and China build what can be century-long relationships in important parts of the world.

Progress by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to become a modern, safety-focused regulator. As the industry evolves, the NRC should continue to modernize policies and ensure the regulatory framework is not a barrier to nuclear innovation.

Smart regulation of the industry is essential to the development and deployment of future nuclear technologies and the durability of the existing fleet.

If the regulatory burden is too costly or creates too many delays, our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and compete against Russia and China will be stalled.