By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters), – Friday’s statement by the U.S. Department of Energy indicated that utilities and communities are being asked for input as they develop a new program to help nuclear power plants in trouble with $6 billion of credit.

In accordance with the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the DOE was charged last year to create the Civil Nuclear Credit Program in order to provide credits for nuclear plants.

Although nuclear power produces power almost without emissions that are blamed for global warming, the industry lost 12 reactors in 2013 to competition from renewable energy sources and other plants that produce abundant heat. Additionally, safety costs have increased after the Fukushima tsunami in Japan.

Andrew Griffith (DOE deputy assistant secretary nuclear fuel cycle and supply chains), said that they are moving fast in implementing the credit program. We want it to be right. It is designed to support reactors within states that have competitive power markets.

Owners and operators of U.S.-based reactors may bid for credit to fund their operations. Applications must prove that their reactors will close for economic reasons and demonstrate that closure will lead to a rise in air pollutants. Credits will be allocated to reactors that are certified by the department over four-year periods.

The DOE will be able to appropriate $1.2 million over the next 4 years. In 2035, the previous 4-year period is finished. Officials believe the program will be able to assist one or two plants by this year.

“U.S. nuclear power plants are essential to achieving President (Joe) Biden’s climate goals and DOE is committed to keeping carbon-free electricity flowing and preventing premature closures,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Administration is keen to keep union workers at these plants, which are highly-paid.

The law instructs the department to give priority to plants that use domestically-produced uranium for fuel, though it is uncertain whether the program will help boost U.S. uranium mining amid relatively cheap imports from Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia and opposition from environmentalists.

A program to store nuclear waste at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain permanently, which was a long-running project that the United States spent decades on, has been rejected by the state.

At the moment, the nuclear waste is kept at all power plants in the United States in both spent fuel pools or hardened casks. Biden’s administration seeks local residents who are willing to house nuclear waste storage facilities.

Griffith stated that community input will be helpful in guiding decisions regarding the credit program. We are looking to get broad input from utilities as well as communities that have these reactors, because it’s an important voice.”