News of a planned nuclear power plant in Ohio, the expected selection of four companies to receive federal loan guarantees to build the next generation of nuclear reactors and renewed support in Congress for nuclear energy were welcomed by the Reform Institute.
The announcement of the new plant by Duke Energy in Piketon, Ohio, reports that UniStar Nuclear Energy, NRG Energy Inc., Scana Corp. and Southern Co. will likely receive financing from the Department of Energy, and the approval of comprehensive energy legislation by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee including language stating a "Sense of Congress" that the federal government should reaffirm its support for expanding nuclear energy and address the storage of spent fuel are evidence that nuclear power will be a critical part of revamping America's energy and environmental policy.
"Nuclear power will play an essential role in creating jobs, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," stated Reform Institute Executive Director Cecilia Martinez.
"In devising comprehensive energy and climate legislation Congress must include measures to streamline the regulatory process for building new nuclear power plants and address the issue of disposal of nuclear waste."
The Reform Institute provided findings and recommendations for comprehensive energy reform in the recent publication Reforming American Energy: Overcoming Reliance and Ensuring Reliability and convened a national energy symposium to foster collaboration and solutions towards energy resilience in April.
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