WASHINGTON, DC – US Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Martin Heinrich (DN.M.) today introduced Law to promote research in the field of nuclear fuel recycling. The bill requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Academy of Science to establish an independent committee of experts to study the recycling of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. The study, commissioned by the DOE, is designed to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks of recycling our spent nuclear fuel compared to the status quo of interim storage. Domestic recycling has the potential to reduce storage needs for spent nuclear fuel, reduce our dependence on nuclear fuel imports from hostile countries like Russia, and provide additional supplies of rare elements and isotopes used in certain medicines and advanced technologies.

When introducing Senator Cruz said: “No single state should bear the brunt of nuclear waste accumulation. To advance America’s energy supply, we must find ways to maximize our cleanest baseload energy source. I am proud to work with Senator Heinrich on this bipartisan bill to explore how new technologies can harness the full potential of recycled nuclear energy. Innovation is key to making America an energy leader.”

Sen. Henry said: “We must find ways to deliver clean, reliable energy to all Americans. This bill will help find safe methods for recycling our spent nuclear fuel that can increase domestic clean energy resources, reduce costs, and create good-paying jobs for Americans.”

Ed McGinnis, CEO of Curio, said: “We commend Senators Cruz and Heinrich for their forward-thinking leadership on the Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act of 2024. Their commitment underscores the critical importance of nuclear waste recycling to achieving America’s energy independence and ensuring a sustainable future. By embracing innovative solutions and bridging the gap between technology and policy, we are paving the way for a more environmentally sustainable and economically robust U.S. nuclear sector. Together, we can realize the full potential of nuclear energy while finding a permanent solution to nuclear waste.”

Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, said: “Oklo greatly appreciates the interest and support that Congress has expressed for commercial recycling of used nuclear fuel. This legislation will help demonstrate benefits and potential policy opportunities as Oklo continues to implement its own recycling program to supply fuel to our Aurora power plants.”

Doug True, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, said: “The U.S. nuclear industry supports congressional efforts to advance the recycling of spent nuclear fuel because it has the potential to improve the sustainability and economics of existing and modern reactors, increase U.S. energy security, and convert spent fuel into waste products that can be more easily disposed of in a permanent geological repository.”

Read the full text of the law.

BACKGROUND

• In the United States, there are over 90,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear power plants, and that number grows by another 2,000 tons each year.
• There are currently over 70 sites in the United States where nuclear waste is stored. 20 of these sites do not have an operational nuclear reactor and are considered decommissioned.
• World powers such as France, Great Britain and Japan are currently recycling their spent nuclear fuel. In the USA, however, the fuel has a “single life cycle” because President Carter banned the recycling of nuclear fuel in a now-repealed executive order.

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