The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (S 3293) allocates approximately $13.5 billion in federal funding for energy and water infrastructure programs for fiscal year 2026. The bill provides specific funding for Corps of Engineers civil works projects including flood control, river and harbor maintenance, and aquatic ecosystem restoration, as well as for Department of Energy programs focused on energy efficiency, nuclear energy, and grid infrastructure. It establishes the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program with $5 million allocated to support dam safety projects and levee maintenance for state and local entities. The bill includes detailed provisions governing how funds can be reprogrammed across different programs, with specific limits on reprogramming amounts for various categories. This funding bill directly affects federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as well as state and local governments that receive federal funding for water infrastructure projects.
The ARMOR Act of 2025 establishes a pilot program for the U.S. Army to deploy small nuclear reactors (capable of generating up to 300 megawatts) at military installations by December 2030, providing reliable power to critical infrastructure. It allows for 50-year contracts for energy from these reactors, permits connecting to the commercial grid to sell excess power, and prioritizes licensing for these reactors. The program directly affects Army installations (with potential expansion to other military branches) and aims to enhance energy resilience for defense facilities. Key provisions include requiring reactors to be compatible with military needs and AI infrastructure, and setting a 2035 deadline for program completion.
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.
The Nuclear REFUEL Act of 2025 amends the Atomic Energy Act to clarify that certain nuclear fuel reprocessing activities are excluded from the legal definition of a "production facility." Specifically, it removes a prior exclusion for uranium enrichment and adds that reprocessing spent nuclear fuel *without* separating plutonium from other transuranic elements is no longer considered a production facility. This change directly affects nuclear energy companies and facilities engaged in this specific type of fuel reprocessing, as it would exempt them from certain regulatory requirements tied to production facilities. The bill focuses on updating regulatory definitions rather than creating new policy mandates.
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.
The Office of Fusion Act of 2025 establishes a new Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy to accelerate the development and commercial deployment of fusion energy technology. The Office will coordinate public-private partnerships, build domestic supply chain infrastructure, and work toward the goal of starting construction on more than one private-sector fusion power plant by December 31, 2028. It requires the Department to submit a detailed commercial deployment roadmap to Congress within 180 days of enactment, with updates every four years, outlining barriers and strategies for advancing fusion energy. The bill also creates a Fusion Innovation Center, based at a national laboratory or university with proven fusion expertise, to lead these efforts.
This bill directs the U.S. Treasury to advocate through U.S. representatives at multilateral banks (like the World Bank) to remove restrictions on financing nuclear energy projects and to build capacity for assessing nuclear energy needs. It establishes "Nuclear Energy Assistance Trust Funds" at these banks to provide competitive financing and technical support for nuclear projects in borrowing countries, with strict requirements that projects must meet U.S. or allied safety standards. The bill affects how U.S. officials influence global nuclear financing at international institutions and targets countries seeking to adopt nuclear power, including those planning to build reactors by 2030-2035. It requires annual reporting on progress and expires 10 years after enactment.
This bill requires the U.S. Department of State to develop a strategy within 120 days to strengthen nuclear energy cooperation with Europe and reduce Russian influence in the nuclear sector. The strategy must assess reactor types, fuel cycles, and U.S. nuclear technology investments to decrease Russia’s market share in uranium, enrichment, and reactor supply by 2030. It authorizes $30 million annually (2025-2029) for U.S. engagement, including capacity building and countering Russian disinformation, targeting European countries with active nuclear programs. The bill directly affects U.S. foreign policy coordination, European energy security, and the competitiveness of U.S./European nuclear technology against Russian suppliers like Rosatom.
This bill mandates a comprehensive study by the Department of Energy on recycling spent nuclear fuel into reusable materials. It requires analysis of costs, benefits, risks (including proliferation), and comparisons between recycling methods (like aqueous vs. non-aqueous processes) versus current storage practices. The study must assess impacts on communities storing nuclear waste, evaluate facility siting options, identify regulatory gaps, and examine policy needs for future recycling deployment. The Secretary must submit a public report within one year, detailing findings and recommendations for policymakers. This affects the Department of Energy, national laboratories, and communities managing nuclear waste storage sites.
HR 3667, the "Strengthening American Nuclear Energy Act," makes four specific executive orders signed on May 23, 2025, legally binding. It requires the Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the nuclear industry to follow these orders, which cover reactor testing rules, deploying advanced nuclear technologies for national security, reforming NRC processes, and supporting the nuclear industrial base. The bill directly affects federal agencies managing nuclear energy and the companies developing new nuclear reactors.
