House Energy Subcommittee hears industry case for rapid nuclear deployment, highlights DOE funding and financing needs

Representatives gathered at the House Energy Subcommittee hearing to assess the current state of the U.S. nuclear industry, pressing witnesses on how to translate recent policy gains into large-scale deployment.

Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, told the panel that electricity demand is surging—driven in part by data centers and artificial intelligence—and described six congressional priorities for enabling deployment. "Nuclear power is a solution to the energy and national security challenges that we face," Korsnick said, arguing for regulatory modernization, federal risk-sharing to mitigate early-mover finance risk, and a domestic fuel supply chain. She cited recent DOE actions "—the $2,700,000,000 in uranium enrichment awards announced this week"—as a step toward rebuilding domestic capacity.

John Williams, senior vice president at Southern Nuclear Operating Company, drew on the Vogtle Units 3 and 4 experience to make the case for a design‑once, build‑many approach. Williams said the company saw roughly a 20 percent cost improvement between Unit 3 and Unit 4 and urged a package of federal supports—loan guarantees, enhanced tax incentives and transferability of tax credits—to reduce the high up‑front capital barriers that deter investment.

John Wagner, director of Idaho National Laboratory, described an active demonstration pipeline and a DOE reactor pilot program that selected 10 companies with 11 projects. Wagner said the pilot aims to have "three new reactor systems critical by July 4, 2026," characterizing that milestone as an early demonstration step that does not equal commercial operation but signals technical progress.

Witnesses and members repeatedly returned to the same three implementation challenges: the availability of finance for long lead items and construction, the capacity and predictability of licensing and permitting pathways, and the state of the domestic fuel supply chain. Several members recommended solutions the federal government can pursue immediately, including making early orders for long‑lead components to jump-start the supply chain and using the Loan Program Office to offer lower‑cost capital.

Members from both parties pressed the witnesses on affordability and consumer protection: Williams said that reducing borrowing cost through DOE programs directly saves customers money, pointing to loans Southern Company received for Vogtle construction. Korsnick and others emphasized that standardization and reaching an "nth‑of‑a‑kind" construction state are essential to making nuclear competitive with natural gas.

The hearing included technical discussion of reactor types and use cases. Panelists noted that a diversity of reactor designs is likely in the U.S. market—large light‑water reactors such as the AP1000 (the type used at Plant Vogtle) will compete alongside various small modular and advanced designs that may be better suited for different industrial applications.

The committee scheduled follow‑up briefings and requested written materials on specific topics raised at the hearing, including details on the reactor pilot program, DOE funding decisions and supply‑chain readiness. No formal legislative actions or votes were taken at the session; members framed the hearing as fact‑finding and oversight intended to guide future policy and potential statutory fixes.

The subcommittee recessed for a security briefing and reconvened for further questioning; the hearing concluded with members reminding witnesses they may receive additional written questions for the record.