Bill Overview
Title: International Nuclear Energy Act
Description: This bill addresses cooperation with other nations on nuclear energy-related issues. For example, the bill requires (1) the President to launch an international initiative to modernize outreach to embarking civil nuclear energy nations, which may include establishing cooperative financing relationships for the export of civil nuclear technology and materials; (2) the Department of State to meet with ally or partner nations with the aim of enhancing nuclear energy cooperation; and (3) the State Department to provide financial assistance to embarking civil nuclear energy nations for the development of civil nuclear energy programs.
Sponsors: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]
Target Audience
Population: people in countries engaged in nuclear energy cooperation with the USA
Estimated Size: 5000
- The bill impacts countries that are allies or partners of the United States, which collectively have large populations.
- The bill affects people working in the nuclear energy sector, a specialized industry.
- There is particular impact on government officials and entities who will engage in enhanced cooperation or receive grants.
- Countries developing civil nuclear programs will see an increase in activity that impacts those directly and indirectly related to nuclear energy infrastructure development.
Reasoning
- The policy likely has a concentrated impact on individuals in the U.S. who are directly involved in nuclear energy sectors, such as industry professionals and government officials.
- The general population may not notice any immediate changes in well-being due to the policy, so the simulated interviews should represent a variety of people, including those not directly impacted.
- Given the budget and program size limits, the major beneficiaries in the U.S. will primarily include industry professionals and government stakeholders rather than the general public.
- Some government officials may see a low to medium impact on their roles through enhanced cooperation efforts, which might slightly alter their work satisfaction and well-being.
- The census data suggests around 5000 people in the U.S. might feel some impact, hence the interviews should include a mix of those affected and unaffected.
Simulated Interviews
Nuclear Energy Policy Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a positive step towards strengthening our international ties in the nuclear sector.
- This could lead to new opportunities, but will also increase my workload significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Export Manager for a Nuclear Equipment Manufacturer (New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as a big win for my company—more international opportunities mean growth.
- I'm hopeful this will solidify the future of my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Nuclear Engineer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I won't directly benefit, it's good to see the industry I worked in getting more attention.
- I hope this leads to more safe use of nuclear energy globally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not really sure how this policy affects me, as I'm not involved in this sector.
- It sounds important for international relations, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Government Diplomat (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will certainly increase the workload and complexity of my job.
- It's a critical time for us to strengthen our strategic ties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Nuclear Research Scientist (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act may open new avenues for collaborative research, which is exciting.
- I anticipate more funding opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired School Teacher (Detroit, MI)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these are probably good for progress, but I can't say much about them personally.
- I assume they might help with job creation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Nuclear Plant Supervisor (Los Alamos, NM)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There might be an uptick in international project work, which is encouraging.
- Despite some logistical challenges, this will be beneficial over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Environmental Activist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might divert focus from renewable energy to nuclear, which worries me.
- I'm skeptical about how much it prioritizes safety and environmental concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Economist (Boston, MA)
Age: 46 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If implemented well, this policy could stimulate economic growth in the energy sector.
- It remains to see how these partnerships play out in the long term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Geopolitical implications of strong nuclear ties with certain countries could influence foreign policy beyond energy needs.
- Long-term benefits may include advancing U.S. soft power through energy leadership.
- The success of the policy heavily depends on global nuclear market dynamics, including non-proliferation concerns and technology competitiveness.