Congress Supports the Nuclear Power Renaissance

Originally published August 23, 2005

On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed into law the Domenici-Barton Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("the Act"). The Act contains an array of provisions that support nuclear power, including tax credits, federal risk insurance, and loan guarantees. Combined with the impressive financial performance of the U.S. nuclear fleet and the growing public recognition that nuclear plants generate electricity without contributing to global warming, the Act creates a favorable environment for building new nuclear powerplants. This Legal Alert discusses the key nuclear provisions of the Act.

The Act extends the Price-Anderson Act, which provides the basic liability protection for the U.S. nuclear industry, for 20 years, until 2025. Accordingly, the Act maintains the existing regime of no-fault insurance coverage for the public in the event of a nuclear reactor incident and sets new thresholds for private insurance