This year’s NEI-sponsored Nuclear Energy Assembly in Washington, D.C., showed more clearly than ever that support for new nuclear plants comes from leaders in both parties.

“My message to you is a simple one: nuclear energy is part of the solution. I say ‘part’ because there is no one single solution to America’s energy needs. I will keep arguing that nuclear power has a vital place in that mix and that it deserves our government’s support,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer, Democrat from Maryland and majority leader of the House of Representatives, during his speech at the opening session. And he was not alone.

“If you look at [energy] issues on a factual basis, there is a large and important role for nuclear to play. What I would hope, and what I have expressed to the secretary of energy is … that there is a sense of urgency at the Department of Energy to move forward, and this certainly pertains to some of the nuclear issues we face today,” said Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.), chairman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. Both Hoyer and Visclosky hold important jobs in shepherding the energy bill through Congress this summer.

The bipartisan tone remained strong throughout the assembly, with House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Sens. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) all voicing strong support for nuclear energy. A theme that crossed the aisle included an emphasis on how nuclear energy can enhance U.S. energy security and reliably supply cost-competitive electricity from a source that does not emit greenhouse gases.

Industry also weighed in, emphasizing, among other things, the role of nuclear power in the nation’s economic recovery.

Gary Gates, president and CEO of Omaha Public Power District and chairman of NEI’s board of directors, believes the nuclear industry is a stable boat on rough waters. “Around the world, 61 reactors are under construction or about to start producing power. The economy is tougher today than when we met last year, but the need for new nuclear plants remains strong. The planning horizons for some facilities may have changed, but we expect four to eight new plants to be in operation in the United States by 2016 or 2017.

“All of this activity will lead to more jobs, in the short term in manufacturing and construction, and in career-long jobs to operate the plants. We estimate that 15,000 new jobs have been created and over $4 billion invested in the nuclear industry over the past few years. Nuclear is one of the few industries to be creating jobs at a time when so many jobs are disappearing.”

Video clips from the conference are available on NEI’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/NEINetwork.

—Nuclear Energy Insight, July 2009