Energy (Nuclear)

The RESCUE Act directs the President to develop a strategy for reducing United States reliance on Russian nuclear energy and assisting allies in ending their dependence on Rosatom. It mandates sanctions against foreign entities owned or controlled by the Russian government that operate in the nuclear energy sector, blocking transactions involving their property within the United States. The legislation includes exceptions for medical isotopes, humanitarian aid, and UN activities, with the sanctions authority set to expire seven years after enactment. Additionally, the bill requires the President to submit annual strategies and reports to Congress regarding the implementation of these measures and the status of the US-Russia nuclear cooperation agreement.

HR 6665 prohibits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing licenses for private facilities to store spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste, except at sites attached to operating nuclear power plants or federally owned storage sites. This bill directly affects private companies seeking to operate interim storage facilities and the NRC, which would no longer issue such licenses. Existing licenses for private interim storage would be canceled upon the bill's enactment. The law does not restrict long-term disposal at federally managed repositories, as defined under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

HR 524, the "NO GOTION Act," blocks U.S. green energy tax credits for companies tied to specific countries. It amends tax law to deny benefits under sections like 30C, 45, and 48 to any "disqualified company" - defined as entities created in, controlled by, or linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. The law directly affects corporations with ties to these nations that seek federal tax incentives for clean energy projects. The policy takes effect for tax years after the bill's enactment, removing eligibility for these companies without altering other tax rules.

This bill requires energy-related federal agencies to set expiration dates for their regulations. It applies to agencies like the Department of Energy, Bureau of Land Management, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. All current regulations must expire within one year of the bill's passage, while new regulations must expire within five years unless the agency gets a waiver by proving the rule has a "net deregulatory effect." Agencies can extend expirations only after public comment and by demonstrating the rule's benefits, but each extension is limited to five years.

This bill directs the U.S. Treasury Secretary to instruct U.S. representatives at major international financial institutions (like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank) to oppose and reverse restrictions on financing coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy projects. It requires these institutions to eliminate policies blocking such financing and ties 50% of U.S. funding for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to certification that these restrictions have been removed. The bill aims to increase access to energy financing for developing countries by promoting these specific energy sources, with annual reports to Congress tracking progress. It directly affects how U.S. funds are used at global banks and the energy project options available to developing nations.

This bill denies U.S. green energy tax credits to companies tied to designated "foreign adversaries," including those owned by governments of Cuba, Venezuela (under Maduro), or other nations identified under U.S. law. It blocks eligibility for tax benefits under specific clean energy provisions (like credits for solar, wind, and energy-efficient buildings) if a company meets defined criteria: having 10%+ ownership by a foreign adversary government, being controlled by such entities, or having certain financial arrangements (like leases or debt) with them. The law applies to future tax years and aims to prevent taxpayer-funded incentives from flowing to entities linked to nations deemed adversarial by the U.S. government. It does not alter existing tax credits for companies not meeting these criteria.