ADVANCE Act
U.S. legislation (Pub. L. 118-47, 2024) accelerating advanced nuclear reactor deployment via NRC process reforms, including fee adjustments and DOE demonstration support.
The ADVANCE Act amends the Atomic Energy Act to expedite licensing for advanced reactors, microreactors, and SMRs by authorizing NRC fee recovery from non-power applicants and establishing a technical standard pilot program. It also promotes nuclear fuel supply chains, HALEU production, and international cooperation. Passed as part of a 2024 appropriations package, it addresses deployment barriers amid rising clean energy demand.
Why it matters now
In 2025-2026, the Act facilitates SMR licensing (e.g., NuScale) and HALEU de-risking, critical for data center PPAs from hyperscalers like Microsoft and grid reliability amid uranium supply constraints.