Organizations, References, and Appendices
- Organizations that lent time, insight, and expertise to develop the roadmap
- Glossary of acronyms and definitions used throughout roadmap
Participating Task Force Organizations
The Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Roadmap is the result of collaboration, and while the strategies and considerations reflect the broadest possible set of views, they do not imply a full endorsement by every participant of the Task Force.
Glossary of Acronyms and Definitions
| ADVANCE Act | Federal legislation designed to modernize nuclear licensing and accelerate deployment of advanced reactors. |
| Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) | Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; State policy that requires a certain percentage of electricity sold by utilities or suppliers to come from designated alternative or clean energy sources. |
| ARC Act (Advancing Reliable Capacity Act) | Proposed federal legislation intended to reduce financial risk for early nuclear deployment projects and support first-mover commercial investment. |
| ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) | Develops technical standards and certification programs used throughout the nuclear industry, including nuclear-grade manufacturing qualifications. |
| Baseload Power | Power plants that operate continuously to meet minimum electricity demand. |
| Brownfield Site | Previously developed industrial or energy sites that may be suitable for redevelopment or repowering, including retired fossil fuel facilities. |
| Capacity Factor | The percentage of time a power plant operates at full output relative to its maximum possible output. Nuclear plants typically have capacity factors above 90%. |
| Capital Stack | The combination of financing sources used to fund a project, including equity, loans, tax incentives, and grants. |
| Carbon-Free Power | Electricity generation that does not emit carbon dioxide during operation. |
| Coal-to-Nuclear Transition | The redevelopment of retired or retiring fossil fuel generation sites for nuclear energy deployment, often leveraging existing infrastructure, transmission access, and workforce assets. |
| Contracts for Differences (CFDs) | A financial mechanism that stabilizes project revenues by guaranteeing a fixed electricity price. |
| Credit-Based Structures (CBSs) | Market mechanisms that provide financial credits for electricity generation with certain attributes, such as zero emissions. |
| Data Center | A facility that houses computing infrastructure and requires large amounts of reliable electricity for continuous operation. |
| Dispatchable Generation | Power generation sources that can be turned on or adjusted to meet electricity demand. |
| DOE | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Dry Cask Storage | A method of storing spent nuclear fuel in sealed steel and concrete containers above ground. |
| EPRI | Electric Power Research Institute |
| Enrichment | The process of increasing the concentration of uranium-235 in nuclear fuel. |
| Firm Power | Electricity generation that is available on demand and can operate continuously regardless of weather conditions. |
| Fission | A nuclear reaction in which a heavy atomic nucleus splits into smaller nuclei, releasing energy that can be used to generate electricity. |
| First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Project | The initial commercial deployment of a new reactor technology or design, often associated with higher development risk and cost. |
| Fuel Cycle | The full lifecycle of nuclear fuel, including mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, reactor use, storage, and disposal. |
| Fusion | A nuclear reaction in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy. |
| Generation Uprate | An increase in the electricity output capability of an existing nuclear power plant through equipment upgrades or operational improvements. |
| Grid Reliability | The ability of the electricity system to consistently deliver power without interruption. |
| Interconnection | The process of connecting a new electricity generator to the power grid. |
| Large Load Customers | Large electricity consumers whose operations require substantial and continuous power demand, typically measured in tens or hundreds of megawatts. |
| Life Extension | The process of extending the licensed operating life of an existing nuclear reactor through regulatory approval and plant modernization investments. |
| Load Growth | Increasing electricity demand over time due to factors such as industrial expansion, electrification, and data centers. |
| NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) | National trade association representing the nuclear energy industry. |
| NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) | The Federal agency responsible for nuclear reactor licensing and safety oversight. |
| Orderbook | The pipeline of planned nuclear reactor deployments that provides demand visibility for manufacturers and suppliers. A clear orderbook allows suppliers to justify investments in nuclear-grade upgrades, certification, tooling, and workforce expansion. |
| PEDA (Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority) | Pennsylvania authority that supports energy-related financing and infrastructure initiatives. |
| PJM (PJM Interconnection) | Regional transmission organization that manages electricity markets and grid reliability across multiple states including Pennsylvania. |
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | A long-term contract between a power producer and a buyer for the sale of electricity. |
| PUC (Public Utility Commission) | Independent state agency responsible for regulating public utilities and overseeing aspects of electricity distribution, natural gas service, and energy infrastructure within the commonwealth. Also plays a role in transmission planning, utility reliability, and consumer protection. |
| Ratepayer | A residential, commercial, or industrial electricity customer that pays utility or retail electricity charges. |
| Spent Nuclear Fuel | Used nuclear fuel removed from a reactor after it can no longer efficiently sustain the fission process. |
| Supply Chain Qualification | The process through which manufacturers meet nuclear industry standards for safety, quality assurance, and component production. |
| Transmission System | High-voltage infrastructure that transports electricity over long distances. |
| Zero-Emission Generation | Electricity generation that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation |