---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16021"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16021"
heading: "Project establishment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16021"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter VI — Nuclear Matters"
  - "Part B — Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project"
---

# §16021. Project establishment

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall establish a [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) to be known as the “Next Generation Nuclear Plant [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12)” (referred to in this part as the “[Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12)”).
- (b) **Content—** The [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) shall consist of the research, development, design, [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), and operation of a prototype plant, including a nuclear reactor that—
  - (1) is based on research and development activities supported by the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative under [section 16272(c)](/usc/42/16272.md?p=c)[^1] of this title; and
  - (2) shall be used—
    - (A) to [generate](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) electricity;
    - (B) to produce hydrogen; or
    - (C) both to [generate](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) electricity and to produce hydrogen.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 641, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 794; Pub. L. 115–248, § 2(b)(2), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3155.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 16272 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), was amended generally by Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2003(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2459 and, as amended, section 16272(c) of this title no longer refers to the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative.

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–248 substituted “section 16272(c)” for “section 16272(d)”, which had been an editorial translation of a reference in original text to section 942(d) of Pub. L. 109–58.