Subcommittee Chair Duncan Opening Remarks at Energy Subcommittee Markup of 17 Bills to Secure Reliable, Clean, American Energy

Statement

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"We will first take up a series of nuclear bills today, aimed at modernizing our nuclear licensing structure to bring clean, reliable, baseload generation online.

Our shared goal in this committee is to advance bipartisan, durable policy that will expand nuclear energy and its benefits for the nation.

Chair Rodgers, Ranking Members Pallone and DeGette and I sent a bipartisan request for information to a variety of stakeholders this past April.

Based on feedback from this request and the hearings we've had since, it's clear that more can be done to modernize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Energy (DOE) to advance nuclear energy in this country.

In our July legislative hearing, we heard from the NRC and DOE, and industry experts on how the nuclear bills will help restore American nuclear leadership.

For example, my legislation would align the mission of the NRC with the policy goals of the Atomic Energy Act to maximize the benefits of nuclear for the general welfare.

Several bills would improve the NRC licensing by creating clearer timeframes, cutting hourly fees for advanced reactors, and avoiding duplicative environmental reviews--and directing that NRC should do its work in a timely, efficient, and predictable way.

Other bills seek to advance nuclear deployment at the DOE and will enable the United States to regain our global nuclear leadership.

I am proud of the bipartisan work on these twelve bills and optimistic we will get to a place on two bills not listed today, which remain important priorities.

Mr. Griffith's legislation would eliminate an outdated hearing requirement at NRC, which the Commission itself has said is not needed.

And Mr. Walberg's bill similarly would update NRC requirements involving an advisory committee. These are priorities that we want to continue moving through Energy and Commerce."

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"We have repeatedly heard in this committee from the FERC Commissioners, grid operators, and energy experts about our "looming resource adequacy' crisis.

We need to take this warning seriously and do more to ensure the reliability and affordability of our electric grid the energy system.

The early retirement of baseload generation sources, like nuclear and natural gas, are contributing to this problem. Unrealistic policies like the EPA's unlawful Clean Power Plant 2.0 proposal are contributing to these early retirements.

My bill, which we are marking up today, the "Guaranteeing Reliable Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act', would amend the Federal Power Act to require coordination between FERC and any Federal agency working on a regulation that could threaten the reliability of the bulk power system. I hope all my colleagues on this committee will join me in this important effort.

We also heard at our field hearing in Moore County, North Carolina in June, the Biden Administration is pursuing new efficiency standards for transformers that will make the existing supply chain crisis even worse, putting grid reliability at risk.

Congressman Hudson's bill, which we are taking up today, would prohibit the DOE from imposing new efficiency standards for distribution transformers until 5 years after the enactment of this act."

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"This administration is using efficiency and appliance standards to pursue climate objectives over consumer choice. These standards will increase the cost of appliances and limit the availability of consumer options.

Congresswoman Lesko's bill would address this issue by amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to prohibit DOE from prescribing any new or amended efficiency standards that are not technologically feasible or economically justified.

It's not just home appliances that efficiency standards are targeting. A recent Biden Administration energy efficiency standard targets manufactured housing, making these homes less affordable.

Dr. Bucshon's bill would correct course, preventing DOE from mandating new standards for manufactured homes because they are already regulated by another federal government agency, HUD."

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"Finally, we are taking up Chair Rodgers' bill, the "Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act.'

Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy, and this legislation will ensure this clean energy stays online, preserving the existing fleeting and paving the way to bring more hydropower online. I am hopeful we can get bipartisan support on this bill.

I urge my colleagues to support all the legislation in front of us today to advance American energy security, reliability, and affordability."

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