Jeffrey Merrifield Testifies in the House on Advanced Nuclear Technology’s Role in a Decarbonized Future

Merrifield testified in his role as the Chairman of the Advanced Nuclear Task Force of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council. USNIC is the leading U.S. business advocate for the promotion of nuclear advancement and the American supply chain globally. USNIC represents over 80 companies engaged in nuclear innovation and supply chain development, including technology developers, manufacturers, construction engineers, key utility movers, and service providers.

In his remarks, Merrifield made clear that “it has become increasingly apparent that we must seek a wide range of technological innovations to reverse the global production of greenhouse gasses or risk further environmental impacts associated with the release of carbon into our atmosphere.”

Among those innovations, Merrifield reported that USNIC has over 20-member companies that are developing advanced nuclear technologies including small modular light water, high temperature gas, molten salt and liquid metal reactors ranging in size from micro-reactors of a few megawatts to large gigawatt size reactors.

Given those capabilities, these advanced reactors could replace some of the nuclear units that will be retiring in the U.S. over the next 20-plus years, Merrifield added. Also, their reduced footprint could allow them to be deployed for a wider range of additional sites and applications such as replacing existing coal-fired or gas-fired power units while continuing to use those sites and the electrical lines that connect to them. Additionally, due to their high temperature operations, many of these advanced reactors could replace carbon-based generation for desalination, provide process heat for chemical and manufacturing systems, and in some locations, enable district heating.

“Due to their smaller size, these reactors are deployable in locations and areas which cannot support the large, gigawatt sized reactors that were the only market offering the U.S. possessed several years ago,” Merrifield stated. “The advanced nuclear community I represent today provides a clear opportunity for the U.S. to be a leading presence in the deployment of nuclear technologies in Africa and beyond.”

Merrifield noted that USNIC supports H.R. 3306, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act.

“USNIC believes that NELA would significantly enhance the ability of advanced reactor developers to deploy their technologies in the United States. The advanced reactor demonstration programs and long-term federal power purchase agreement changes included in the legislation would be particularly helpful in providing needed assistance to facilitate the deployment of these promising technologies.”

Merrifield is a partner in Pillsbury’s Washington, DC office and co-leader of the firm’s Energy practice. He has previously served as Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1998-2007), an attorney in the U.S. Senate and a senior executive at the largest power engineering and construction company in the U.S.

Click here to watch the full hearing. To read Merrifield’s full prepared statement, click here.