Deputy Director Jackie Toth Testifies in Support of Advanced Nuclear

On July 18, Good Energy Collective’s Deputy Director Jackie Toth testified at a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on several bills to support the adoption of new nuclear energy.

Jackie emphasized the need to increase the public’s ability to learn from and engage with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as their licensing activities accelerate. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)’s NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act (H.R. 4530) would establish a dedicated office to help the public navigate the NRC and facilitate more effective and proactive outreach from the agency to communities across the country. She also backed Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)’s Strengthening the NRC Workforce Act (H.R. 4528), which aims to address hiring and attrition issues at the NRC by improving the agency's ability to attract and reward skilled staff.

"Good Energy Collective is interested in ensuring that Congress build upon NEIMA and equip the NRC with the necessary direction and resources to facilitate the successful adoption of new nuclear while preserving the public’s ability to learn about and participate," said Jackie Toth, deputy director of Good Energy Collective.

‍In 2022, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Energy to support research, development, and demonstration of nuclear energy projects in communities facing the retirement of fossil fuel-fired power plants. Jackie testified that the discussion draft of the Nuclear for Brownfields Site Preparation Act would complement these activities by directing the necessary regulatory changes to enable nuclear energy to support interested coal-closure communities.