Review of DOE's Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program

There has been a substantial resurgence of interest in nuclear power in the United States over the past few years. One consequence has been a rapid growth in the research budget of DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). In light of this growth, the Office of Management and Budget included within the FY2006 budget request a study by the National Academy of Sciences to review the NE research programs and recommend priorities among those programs. The programs to be evaluated were: Nuclear Power 2010 (NP 2010), Generation IV (GEN IV), the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI), the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)/Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) facilities. This book presents a description and analysis of each program along with specific findings and recommendations. It also provides an assessment of program priorities and oversight. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Nuclear Power 20103 The Generation IV and Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative Programs4 The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative and Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Programs5 Idaho National Laboratory6 Program Priorities, Balance, and OversightAppendixesAppendix A: Minority Opinion: Dissenting Statement of Gilinsky and MacfarlaneAppendix B: Minority Opinion: An Alternative to Technology Proposed for GNEP, Offered by Levy, Kazimi, and DallyAppendix C: Biographical Sketches for Committee MembersAppendix D: AcronymsAppendix E: Presentations and Committee MeetingsAppendix F: Statement of Task