US Senate approves a critical clean energy bill to pave the way for more nuclear

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Senate has passed the ADVANCE Act, a significant clean energy bill aimed at promoting nuclear energy by making it easier and more affordable to build new reactors
• The bill passed with overwhelming support and now awaits President Biden's signature

🔭 The context: This bipartisan effort marks one of the most substantial clean energy actions since the Inflation Reduction Act, targeting the revitalization of the aging US nuclear industry and the advancement of new technologies such as small modular reactors

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Nuclear energy is seen as a critical component for achieving zero-carbon electricity, offering a reliable power source that can complement intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar

⏭️ What's next: The bill is expected to streamline the permitting process, reduce costs for developers, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies both domestically and internationally

💬 One quote: “In a major victory for our climate and American energy security, the U.S. Senate has passed the ADVANCE Act with overwhelming, bipartisan support,” said Democratic Sen. Tom Carper

📈 One stat: The recently completed Vogtle Plant units 3 and 4, the first large reactors built in the US in three decades, cost about $35 billion—more than double their original budget of $14 billion

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