Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The Senate this evening passed the Russian uranium ban bill, sending it to President Biden's desk after a lengthy delay.
Why it matters: The legislation could shake up the nuclear power industry's fuel supply — but it also opens up billions in funding for domestic production of enriched uranium.
- The U.S. spends an estimated $1 billion per year on nuclear fuel from Russia.
Driving the news: The Senate passed the bill — the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act — by unanimous consent.
- It has broad bipartisan support and already passed the House.
- But Sen. Ted Cruz held up quick passage in the Senate for months over an unrelated policy dispute.
Context: The first spending bill signed into law this year included $2.7 billion in reprogrammed money for enriched uranium supply.
- But that money was contingent on enactment of a ban on imports from Russia, currently the world's largest supplier.
- The bill that just passed allows reactor operators to continue importing from Russia until 2028 if they don't have another viable supplier.
