U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today to consider building a small, modular nuclear power reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Sen. Alexander said DOE could test out the new technology in Oak Ridge with a 125-megawatt nuclear reactor that could meet nearly half of the department's goal for non-carbon power generation.
"I'm wondering if your own departmental goals for greenhouse gases and the interest in small modular reactors might offer a way to accelerate pilot programs to see how they work?" Sen. Alexander asked Mr. Chu. "I'm sure the first reactors would have an additional cost to them - a cost that's always associated with a start-up. But if it were part of a Navy installation or part of a Department of Energy greenhouse gas goal, I wonder whether a small reactor at Oak Ridge - where a 125-megawatt reactor could eliminate the need for any additional power over the entire Oak Ridge complex and meet 48 percent of the Department of Energy's greenhouse gas reduction goals - might be a wise approach."
Mr. Chu said Sen. Alexander was "absolutely right" about putting a small reactor at Oak Ridge.
"Small modular reactors is one area where we think we can take a technological lead and would be great for export as well," the energy secretary said.