HOUSTON – February 17, 2010 Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) applauded the Administration’s announcement yesterday that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will soon be issuing its first loan guarantee to build two new nuclear reactors.
“In a future where carbon will increasingly be constrained, nuclear power generation needs to play an increasingly central role in contributing to the energy mix of the United States — providing baseload capacity and an affordable supply of electricity to power our homes, our businesses and our industries,” said CEA president David Holt.
“More important,” added Holt, “is that the advancement of nuclear energy and other clean energy technologies will also help create thousands of new jobs and provide substantial benefits to consumers, the economy and the environment, all while strengthening our national energy security.”
Pursuant to the president’s announcement, DOE is expected to grant an $8.3 billion conditional loan guarantee for the construction of two nuclear reactors in Georgia by Southern Company. The construction of these new reactors is estimated to generate roughly 3,000 construction jobs and more than 800 permanent operations jobs.
CEA has actively supported policies important to the nuclear energy industry, particularly as they relate to financing support and efficient licensing for new nuclear facilities.
“It is important that the federal government encourage the continued development of nuclear energy, as well as oil, natural gas, wind, solar, hydro, and biomass. These resources must all play a role in meeting our energy needs,” said Holt.
