Naples Standard

Today, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and 13 other bipartisan members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense, expressing strong support for Project Pele. This initiative aims to design, build, demonstrate, and deploy a prototype mobile nuclear microreactor by 2025.

The project seeks to leverage advanced technologies in nuclear engineering to create a safe and portable microreactor that provides reliable power. The letter urges the Department of Defense (DOD) to update Congress on the project's timeline and deployment plans after successful demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory.

"America’s national security and energy security are on the line—since energy can start, define, and end a war," states the letter. It emphasizes the importance of Project Pele in meeting the U.S. Armed Forces' energy needs both domestically and abroad.

Joining Rep. Donalds in this effort are U.S. Representatives Troy Nehls (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), and Seth Moulton (D-MA).

The letter outlines how Project Pele is overseen by the Strategic Capabilities Office within DOD in collaboration with several other agencies including the Department of Energy and NASA. It highlights that DOD is one of the largest energy users globally, relying heavily on natural gas and diesel for military operations.

Project Pele's potential benefits include providing firm baseload energy while reducing logistical challenges associated with refueling military operations. The letter notes that intermittent energy sources like wind and solar cannot meet DOD's future needs as effectively as nuclear power could.

The Pele Reactor will use TRIstructural-ISOtropic fuel derived from high assay low enriched uranium, which is described as "the most robust nuclear fuel on Earth." Safety features include automatic shutdown capabilities to prevent meltdowns.

Successful completion of Project Pele could pave the way for future mobile microreactor deployments in response to natural disasters or commercial sales worldwide. The bipartisan support reflects confidence in this technology's feasibility and potential impact on national security.

The congressmen request an update on Project Pele’s timeline from DOD along with insights into its implementation plan post-demonstration at INL.