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Sen. Murkowski presses DOE on HALEU supply and microreactor pilots for Alaska; INL urges new fuel-fabrication lab
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Summary
Sen. Murkowski questioned DOE officials about HALEU fuel supply and microreactor pilots for Alaska while Assistant Secretary Garish described a push to complete enrichment milestones and build domestic enrichment capacity. Dr. John Wagner of INL said lab infrastructure is aging and requested funding for an Advanced Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Laboratory.
Sen. Murkowski questioned Department of Energy officials on ensuring a reliable supply of HALEU fuel for advanced reactors and on plans to demonstrate microreactors in Alaska, emphasizing national security and urgent needs in diesel-dependent communities.
"DOE has now made initial HALEU production awards. This is an important step," Murkowski said, asking what practical steps DOE and Congress should take so that "fuel supply does not become this pacing challenge for deployments" and noting interest in a microreactor pilot at Eielson Air Force Base.
Assistant Secretary Garish replied that enrichment is "one of the most important ones that we have to face," and said DOE is completing milestone work over the "next several months" that will enable building domestic enrichment facilities. Garish added that material banks and the Defense Production Act could be used to assure supply and reduce reliance on Russian imports.
Garish also urged demonstrations of microreactors in Alaska, saying the Idaho demonstrations and work by "John Wagner's people" show microreactors can give remote communities reliable, lower-cost power without long diesel supply chains.
Dr. John Wagner of INL outlined laboratory capabilities and limits. He said INL has test beds and fuel- and reactor-testing capacities but that the infrastructure is aging and currently "at capacity," straining the lab's ability to meet increased demand for fuel testing, reactor testing and recycling demonstrations. "Our most recent challenge has been fuel fabrication capability for the initial reactors," Wagner said, and he requested resources to develop an "Advanced Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Laboratory."
Sen. Murkowski said she is considering appropriations to support these needs and stressed coordination between the agency, national labs and on-the-ground efforts.
No formal votes or motions were recorded in the transcript of this exchange; the hearing moved from questioning into further testimony and appropriations discussion.
