A groundbreaking project to construct a small modular nuclear reactor power plant has been canceled, dealing a blow to the Biden administration’s clean energy agenda. Last week, two major offshore wind projects were also scrapped. Oregon-based NuScale Power was leading the project, which aimed to demonstrate a six-reactor plant at the Idaho National Laboratory. The plant would have generated enough electricity to power over 300,000 homes, replacing energy from closing coal plants. The cancellation is a setback for efforts to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector in western states.
The termination of the project, announced by NuScale and Utah utilities, comes as other renewable energy initiatives face challenges. In New Jersey, two large offshore wind projects were canceled due to supply chain issues, high interest rates, and a failure to secure desired tax credits. The cancellation of one of these projects, led by Danish energy company Orsted, hampers President Joe Biden’s goal of generating 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.
The Energy Department expressed disappointment over the project’s cancellation but emphasized the inherent difficulties in deploying first-of-a-kind technologies. They believe that the work done so far will be valuable for future nuclear energy endeavors. The department’s spokeswoman, Charisma Troiano, stated that advanced nuclear energy technology is crucial in achieving the administration’s clean energy goals.
While the project’s termination is a setback for small nuclear power, there is still significant interest in developing the technology at other sites, according to Timothy Fox, vice president at ClearView Energy Partners. The Energy Department has provided over $600 million in support for the project since 2014, with up to $1.4 billion approved by the Trump administration in 2020.
The cancellation of the Idaho project has drawn parallels to the failure of Solyndra, a California solar company that went bankrupt after receiving a federal loan from the Obama administration. Critics argue that taxpayer money has been wasted on unsuccessful projects.
NuScale remains committed to bringing its technology to the market and is working with domestic and international customers. The company’s certified design is for a 50-megawatt, advanced light-water small modular nuclear reactor, with plans for an upgraded 77-megawatt design. NuScale intends to transfer materials with long lead times to other projects and use its regulatory progress for future endeavors.
The Utah power system, which was involved in the project, will now focus on non-nuclear resources, primarily solar, wind, and natural gas. The Nuclear Energy Institute expressed disappointment over the cancellation but remains optimistic about the future of small modular nuclear reactors.
Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, an organization that opposes nuclear power, welcomed the cancellation, stating that taxpayer money could have been better spent on existing renewable energy sources like solar and wind. While no other small modular reactor or advanced design has been submitted for certification, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission noted that other companies are nearing the application stage, indicating ongoing activity in the industry.
This article was written by McDermott and originally appeared in the Associated Press. It is solely responsible for all content. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage is supported by various private foundations. Further information about AP’s climate initiative can be found on their website.
