DOE SECRETARY APPEARS BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS DOE FY2026 BUDGET
On Wednesday, June 18, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Christopher Wright appeared as a witness before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources for a Full Committee hearing assessing DOE’s FY2026 Budget as laid out in the President’s Budget Request.
During the hearing, Wright affirmed that nuclear will be the largest growing energy source sometime in the future. He stated that "America must play a leading role in the commercialization of reliable, safe and secure nuclear energy. And we are taking steps to accelerate innovation in this sector. DOE is working to advance the rapid deployment of next generation nuclear technology, including small modular reactors.” Wright fielded multiple questions relating to DOE’s efforts to support nuclear development:
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked Wright to detail DOE’s authority to authorize nuclear projects, such as reactors and fuel cycle facilities, and to describe how DOE may use that authority to speed up the development and the deployment of new nuclear energy. He also inquired into what legislative changes Congress should consider to help expand that authority.
Wright announced the DOE will be sending out a solicitation to get three (3) new small modular reactors (SMR) producing power by July 4 of 2026 at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). He noted that some of the reactors in question “have been talked about for 15 years, some of them can be built quickly and ready to go”.
Wright continued that DOE is leveraging its authority by “putting out requests for people to build data centers or energy production on government lands”, referring to DOE’s AI Infrastructure & Energy Initiative. (For more information, click here to view a Webinar ECA hosted with DOE leadership discussing the Initiative).
He commented that strict regulations have made it difficult to build cost competitive nuclear plants, stating that “China builds a nuclear plant for a third the cost we do and a fourth the time”. He continued “We want to protect our people, we want safety, we want to do all the right things. But we got to be smarter about how we do that, or nuclear will forever be on the edge…”
Senator John Barrasso (WY) inquired into what DOE is doing to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply and empower the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Wright reiterated the solicitation announcement, adding that INL is a great resource to accelerate the deployment of novel reactor designs by providing a space to test and prove reactor capabilities.
Regarding fuel, he commented on how DOE is working with companies to develop domestic fuel enrichment of uranium in the United States, reiterating his approach to leverage private capital to drive forward nuclear development and innovation.
A testament to his belief, Wright stated during the hearing; “We need to make it happen. (Nuclear is) just a great energy source that can help the world.” Chairman Lee thanked Wright for appearing before the committee and lending them his time and insight.
To learn more about DOE's budget, visit our website. ECA will continue to provide updated on the DOE FY2026 budget as they develop. To make sure you don’t miss an update, subscribe to the ECA Update!