U.S. government has taken the first steps towards encouraging higher-assay, low-enriched US uranium fuel. This will pave the way to a new generation nuclear reactors. These are more reliable and efficient than previous designs.

Tuesday’s request by the Department of Energy for information about its plans to commercially produce uranium-based fuel in the United States was made. Currently, the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration makes only enough uranium for its defense and nonproliferation missions. This is a preliminary, information-gathering step and will be used to inform a report which DOE has to provide to Congress. Commentaries are due by January 13th, 2022.

Senator Joe Manchin (D.-W. Va.), who was the main Democratic holdoutSupport for President Joe Biden’s domestic $1.75 trillion green energy and social welfare bill, was expressed by those who stood in their way.

“I’m pleased the Department of Energy has made this announcement, which will result in a domestic supply of low-assay, enriched uranium for the United States,” said ManchinHe is the Chairman of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“I have long supported the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies as a zero-emission source of baseload energy, and I am committed to funding the Advanced Nuclear Fuel program as authorized in the Energy Act of 2020 to prevent reliance on Russia or other foreign suppliers to fuel the next generation of nuclear power,” Manchin said.

West Virginia is home to long history of coal miningThe second-largest coal producer state is after Wyoming. The carbon dioxide produced by burning coal to generate energy is a greenhouse gas, and contributes towards global warming. Nuclear power is considered clean energyBecause a nuclear power station is built, it releases no greenhouse gasses.

HALEU fuel has a greater percentage of uranium235. This is the isotope that is used in nuclear fission reactions. HALEU fuel is more than 20% enriched in uranium-235. Conventional uranium processing produces about 5% U235.

Higher enriched uranium, is required for the smaller, next-generation reactors. They are cheaper to construct, safer to operate, and can adjust their output to respond to demand faster. according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

“Advanced reactors are an incredible asset to have in our collective fight against climate change,” said Kathryn HuffPrincipal deputy assistant secretary at the DOE for the Office of Nuclear Energy, stated.

Huff explained that “if we don’t take steps now to ensure sufficient and varied supplies of HALEU then reactor demonstrations and deployment projects such as those funded under the Bipartisan infrastructure Law won’t get fueled in enough time to slow down the effects of climate change.”