S.Amdt. 1765

SA 1765. Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S.
1260, to establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in
the National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security,
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title III of division F, insert
the following:

SEC. 63__. STUDY ON NATIONAL LABORATORY CONSORTIUM FOR
ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF SMALL MODULAR
REACTORS ON POWER GRID STABILITY AND
RESILIENCE.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Study Required.--The Secretary, in coordination with
the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland
Security, shall conduct a study to analyze the feasibility of
authorizing a consortium within the National Laboratory
system to address the effects of advanced nuclear technology
in the form of small modular reactors on the stability and
resiliency of the United States power grid.
(c) Elements.--The study required under subsection (b)
shall include the following:
(1) An analysis of any additional authorities needed to
establish a research and development program to leverage the
expertise of the National Laboratories to accelerate the
development and deployment of advanced tools and techniques
to simulate the stability and resilience of the power grid to
adverse natural and man-made threats.
(2) An evaluation of potential pilot programs involving
research, innovation transfer, academic partnerships, and
industry partnerships for power grid simulation research.
(3) The use of existing Department programs and projects,
including--
(A) the North American Energy Resilience Model;
(B) the nuclear reactor computer models developed by the
Department; and
(C) the supercomputing centers of the Department.
(4) An assessment of, and cost estimates for, near-term
actions necessary for the proposed consortium to launch
expediently at a broad scale.
(d) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committees on Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security of
the House of Representatives a report on the results of the
study conducted under subsection (b), which may include a
classified annex, if necessary.

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