Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) this week introduced the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act, legislation that will direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue a rulemaking allowing commercial-grade concrete and steel to be used in non-safety-related structures of nuclear power plants.
“As nuclear technology evolves, our regulations should evolve with it,” said Senator Cynthia Lummis. “Requiring nuclear-grade materials in parts of a plant that have nothing to do with safety drives up costs and locks out local construction crews who are more than capable of doing the job. This legislation fixes that by requiring the NRC to allow commercial-grade concrete and steel where it’s safe to do so. I’m pleased to work with Senator Kelly and Congressman Donalds to get this done. The result is simple: lower costs, more local jobs, and zero compromise on safety.”
“We need more reliable, affordable power to keep up with growing demand in Arizona and across the country, but outdated rules about building materials drive up costs and slow down construction for nuclear plants,” said Senator Mark Kelly. “With this commonsense solution, we can build clean nuclear power plants faster and cheaper while keeping the same strong safety standards that protect Arizona families.”
“Energy security is national and economic security for the United States. As our energy demands continue to grow, it is essential that nuclear energy is a viable source of base load power. We must take a hard look at outdated and burdensome regulations and make practical, common-sense reforms,” said Congressman Byron Donalds. “I am proud to work alongside Senator Lummis to introduce the Build Nuclear with Local Labor Act to reduce construction and compliance costs for nuclear reactors, without sacrificing safety.”
“We are proud to support Senator Cynthia Lummis’ efforts to encourage the further buildout of nuclear energy in the United States by lessening the burdens placed on the construction and manufacture of these facilities via oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),” said Faith Burns, Energy Policy Fellow- Americans for Prosperity. “The current text in Senator Lummis’ bill requires the agency to finalize a rulemaking to authorize the use of commercial-grade steel and concrete in non-safety-related structures at nuclear facilities. This bill provides a reasonable and responsible manner to address building and construction activities at nuclear facilities. Senator Lummis has been a stalwart in the energy and natural resources space, and we are thankful for her leadership.”
“The Breakthrough Institute commends Senator Lummis for introducing the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act,” said Dr. Adam Stein, Director, Nuclear Energy Innovation, The Breakthrough Institute.” After decades of stagnant demand, growing industries such as AI, advanced manufacturing, and broader electrification will bring large loads to the grid – and advanced nuclear technologies offer promising generation to meet that demand. A key barrier to new nuclear deployment in the United States is the relatively high cost of construction. Regulatory requirements governing the use of safety-related materials in non-safety-related structures can be a meaningful contributor to this cost. The use of commercial-grade concrete and steel in non-safety-related applications maintains rigorous safety requirements for safety-significant systems and structures while advancing a more performance-aligned regulatory approach. This offers a clear pathway to reduce project timelines and costs without compromising public health and safety. We applaud Senator Lummis’s leadership on advancing nuclear energy deployment and her efforts to foster a supportive environment for nuclear technology in Wyoming.”
“Nuclear-grade materials carry an enormous cost premium for little to no additional safety benefit,“ said Nick Loris, President of Policy, C3 Solutions Action. “Three-quarters of a nuclear reactor is concrete, and thanks to federal regulations, that concrete costs 50 percent more than what we use to build bridges and skyscrapers, not because it’s meaningfully safer, but because the regulations say so. The same story holds for steel. For nuclear energy to succeed in the United States, it needs to be cost-competitive, and reducing government regulations that unnecessarily inflate costs is key to achieving that. Senator Lummis’s bill is a long-overdue course correction that will help deploy more clean, dependable power without compromising on safety.”
”Senator Lummis’ bill as a practical step toward making it easier to build more nuclear power in America,” said Chris Koopman, Abundance Institute, CEO. “This kind of targeted reform helps create a more build friendly environment for new nuclear projects and moves the country closer to abundant, reliable American energy. This is exactly the kind of policy Congress should advance if it is serious about energy abundance.”
“For too long, the federal government has stifled nuclear energy with misguided and unnecessary red tape,” said Josh Smith, Senior Fellow, Pacific Legal Foundation. “Pacific Legal Foundation applauds Senator Lummis for introducing the Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act which directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to permit the use of commercial-grade steel and concrete at nuclear facilities. Passing this bill is one of many important steps needed to remove key barriers for American nuclear energy to expand, innovate, and power the future.”
Background:
- The Build Nuclear with Local Materials Act builds on a precedent the NRC already established for TerraPower’s Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, where the agency determined that commercial-grade materials could be safely used in non-safety areas of the plant.
- Current NRC requirements apply nuclear-grade standards broadly to both safety and non-safety structures — a one-size-fits-all approach that drives up costs, extends timelines, and locks out local construction crews who lack specialized nuclear certifications. Allowing commercial-grade concrete and steel in non-safety structures could reduce construction costs and timelines by an estimated 28% while opening nuclear projects to local contractors and skilled trades workers.
- Nuclear-grade concrete and steel are significantly more time- and labor-intensive than standard materials. Foundations can require roughly double the pouring time, while superstructures take up to 50% longer, driving up both costs and project timelines. Concrete makes up ~79.5% of overall materials used in nuclear power plant construction. Allowing commercial-grade materials in appropriate areas could reduce construction time and costs by an estimated 28%.
- The bill does not eliminate nuclear-grade standards — it directs the NRC to identify where commercial-grade materials can be safely used while fully preserving the safety and integrity of nuclear power plants.
Read the full bill here.