Ft Wayne Times

Congressman Jim Baird of Indiana has taken a significant step to bolster the United States' role in the field of small modular reactor (SMR) technology. He introduced the Small Modular Reactor Commercialization Act of 2025 with the aim of securing the U.S.'s leadership in commercializing and industrializing grid-scale SMR technology.

"We want the United States to be the nuclear energy manufacturing powerhouse of the world," said Congressman Baird. "To get there, we must ensure the U.S. is uniquely poised to attract top SMR companies and get them to build their factories here. Last year, Congress passed the ADVANCE Act to support the initial deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. This legislation builds on the ADVANCE Act to tackle the next question of how our nation can compete on truly commercializing and manufacturing this technology at-scale."

Congressman Harrigan, who co-leads the bill, emphasized the significance of this effort. "I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Congressman Baird to make America the global leader in advanced nuclear manufacturing," he said. "Small modular reactors are the future of clean, reliable power, and the country that builds them at scale will set the rules. This legislation ensures that country is the United States."

The act proposes the establishment of an SMR Industrialization Competitiveness Working Group. This group, as outlined in the bill, will be directed by the Secretary of Energy to position the United States to compete for long-term SMR industrialization, particularly beyond initial production volumes.

Additionally, the legislation addresses modernization of SMR electrical output thresholds to reduce the cost of electricity. The definition of a Small Modular Reactor will be updated to reflect technological advancements, raising the electrical output threshold from 300 MWe to 500 MWe, aligning with the ADVANCE Act standards. This increase aims to foster domestic industrialization and expedite deployment of higher-output SMRs.

The 500 MWe threshold includes all Small Modular Reactor designs that are currently in pre-application or licensing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The definition aligns with that of an Advanced Reactor as per the ADVANCE Act, keeping below the 519 MWe threshold of previous generation reactors operating as of December 2020.

Representatives Pat Harrigan and Claudia Tenney are also backing this legislation alongside Congressman Baird.