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Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced funding for 45 research projects under the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI). Researchers come from 21 universities, 16 private sector organizations, eight national laboratories and one federal agency.

The goal of NERI is to support innovative research to address key issues affecting the future use of nuclear energy in the United States. The research and development projects selected under NERI include research in areas of proliferation resistant reactors and/or fuel cycles, new reactor designs, advanced nuclear fuel, new technologies for management of nuclear waste and fundamental nuclear science. NERI is a new program created by Congress with a $19 million budget for fiscal year 1999.

"Investing in research is important to sustaining a diverse energy mix in the years ahead and to advancing our nation's international goals in areas such as nuclear non-proliferation and safety," said Secretary Richardson. "I am pleased that so much of this work will be conducted in collaboration with academia, industry, the national laboratories and with international research and development organizations and look forward to supporting revolutionary advances in nuclear science and technology."

Awards range from approximately $100,000 to $1,200,000 for work authorized in the first year of funding.

NERI is the first major investigator-initiated research and development program conducted by the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. Over three hundred proposals were received and went through a peer review process before the department selected 45 for funding.

The announcement represents a revitalization of the department's nuclear energy research program and a new way of managing nuclear energy research and development in the department.

For further information on the NERI program and to see abstracts on the projects selected for research, visit the NERI web site at neri.ne.doe.gov.