The Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington D.C. is stepping up efforts to promote greener technology and export them to other countries, including Japan, which looks to the United States for innovation in the industry.
“There is a great deal of interdependence between the U.S. and the Japanese nuclear industries. Japanese utilities and companies have always come to the United States for benchmarking,” said Daniel Lipman, the vice president for suppliers and international programs.
Formed in 1994 following a merger of other nuclear energy groups in the United States, NEI has more than 350 members in 17 countries, with Toshiba, Hitachi, Kepco and Arriva making up its Japanese members.
The group is also looking into the development of more advanced reactor technologies, as well as its commercialization and promoting nuclear energy outside of the United States.
Aside from commercial electricity generation, NEI also promotes the applications of nuclear energy in medicine, food processing, agriculture, uranium mining and processing, and nuclear waste management.
Lipman said the NEI wants to see a nuclear energy industry that rewards non-carbon generating resources.
He added: “Our focus is on both on promoting nuclear energy generally but also to work specifically on regulatory, economic and policy and trade issues.”
