§16275 Department of Energy civilian nuclear infrastructure and facilities

Summary

The Secretary must run and keep up the buildings, labs, and equipment needed for nuclear energy work. The Department must make an inventory of nuclear science and engineering facilities, gear, people, and other assets at all National Laboratories. It must make a priority list of needed plant and equipment fixes at each lab, avoid duplicating capabilities across labs, and create a timeline and budget to finish delayed repairs so Department programs are among the best in the world. By December 31, 2017, the Secretary must provide a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source that will operate as a national user facility and must consult with industry, colleges, the National Laboratories, and other federal agencies. After deciding the mission need, the Secretary must give Congress a detailed plan. The facility must at least have fast neutron irradiation and room for upgrades, and the planning must consider high-temperature testing, higher neutron flux than current facilities, flexible and larger irradiation space, lower-energy neutron options, multiple coolant test loops, extra pre- and post-irradiation exam capabilities, and life-cycle cost planning. The Secretary should try to finish construction and start operations by December 31, 2026, and must explain any delays in the annual budget. The law authorizes funding: $295,000,000 (FY2021); $348,000,000 (FY2022); $525,000,000 (FY2023); $534,000,000 (FY2024); $584,000,000 (FY2025). The Secretary may also create the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) to give industry access to testing, computing, data, and technical help, and must choose industry partners by competitive review while considering the Department’s disclosed information and available facilities.