washington white house 2018 budget plan u.s. department energy include 120 million nuclear waste program include restart license nevada yucca mountain project stall years lawsuits local opposition move signal president donald trump may consider nuclear waste solutions could extend live exist u.s. nuclear power plant speed innovations next- generation nuclear plant backers say safe previous reactors congress debate budget uncertain whether fund waste remain plan yucca mountain would store waste practically permanent basis budget money would also support program store waste interim sit yucca open investments would accelerate progress fulfil federal government obligations address nuclear waste enhance national security reduce future taxpayer burden accord summary budget yucca study u.s. government since 1970s potential repository nation radioactive waste billions dollars spend yucca never open legal challenge widespread opposition local politicians environmentalists native american group 2010 then-president barack obama withdraw license store waste yucca amid opposition then-senate majority leader harry reid fellow democrat nevada maria korsnick head nuclear energy institute industry group say industry encourage plan waste project nuclear energy innovators nervous cut program support public-private partnerships bring new nuclear technologies market budget eliminate fund advance research project agency energy innovative technology loan guarantee program popular democrats many republicans trump energy secretary rick perry tell lawmakers confirmation hear restart yucca mountain project could rule would collaborate state aware issue country flummox 30 years spend billions dollars issue perry tell hear january work closely members committee find answer issue white house proposal department energy budget call overall cut 5.6 percent white house propose revive yucca mountain nuclear waste site