WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a comprehensive nuclear energy bill, combining the measure with legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration and firefighter grant programs. The legislative action coincides with a broader push by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to reshape federal energy policy, expedite nuclear power projects, and repeal recent residential energy efficiency regulations.
Senate Advances Nuclear Energy Reforms
The nuclear package, which passed the Senate by a vote of 88-2 with opposition only from Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is designed to accelerate the deployment of new nuclear power plants as existing facilities reach the end of their serviceable lives.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
Licensing Reforms: Reduces the initial licensing fees power companies must pay to initiate new projects.
Environmental Review: Mandates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to compile a report identifying methods to simplify and accelerate the environmental review process.
The legislative action complements four recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump directing the NRC to streamline its regulations and process new license applications within 18 months. Together, these measures aim to restore the United States’ competitive edge in nuclear design and construction—a sector where China is currently building a record number of reactors. The administration’s stated goal is to triple domestic nuclear power generation over the next 25 years, increasing capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050.
Financial support for the sector also continues in the House of Representatives, where draft budget legislation retains tax incentives for new and existing nuclear facilities, provided they begin construction before January 1, 2029.
Three Mile Island Restart Secures $1 Billion Federal Loan
Aligning with the administration’s dual focus on expanding nuclear energy and supporting the artificial intelligence sector, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $1 billion loan to assist in restarting a long-idle nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island.
The energy generated by the recommissioned facility is contracted to provide dedicated power to Microsoft data centers, highlighting the growing energy demands of advanced computing and AI infrastructure.
House Targets Home Appliance and Building Code Regulations
Simultaneously, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, a bill aimed at repealing federal energy efficiency programs implemented under the Biden administration.
Spearheaded by Representative Craig Goldman (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), the legislation seeks to undo energy rules targeting home appliances and building codes. If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would:
Eliminate DOE programs that financially reward low- and middle-income households for adopting specific high-efficiency electric projects.
Remove federal rules that effectively restrict the installation of gas stoves and water heaters in new residential construction.
End federal grants designed to train contractors in home energy efficiency and assist local governments in adopting stricter building energy codes.
Proponents of the bill, including Rep. Goldman, argue the current regulations significantly inflate housing costs, estimating that the repeal could lower the price of a new home by up to $31,000. “Affordability is way more than just a buzzword,” Goldman stated. “How do we decrease housing costs? How do we decrease oil and gas prices… How do we decrease healthcare costs? You know, big issues that affect people in my district.”