Conferees agree on nuclear section of energy bill

Washington (Platts)--18Jul2005

The nuclear section of the energy bill was among the first sections that House
and Senate negotiators were able to reach agreement on. A Senate aide called
it "one of the easier" issues in the legislation because the provisions were
considered non-controversial. The section, if adopted as written, would renew
the Price-Anderson Act an additional 20 years, and authorize $1.25-billion
over the next 10 years for research and construction of an advanced nuclear
cogeneration reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory. It would also further
enhance the security of nuclear facilities through a package of measures
designed to better arm guards, tighten background checks for plant employees,
and increase criminal sanctions for an attack on nuclear or fuel facilities.
Funding authorization for nuclear energy research and development programs and
establishing loan guarantees or other incentives for new construction would be
contained in a separate tax section, which has not yet been completed.

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