Pennsylvania’s Nuclear Energy Caucus releases report on future of industry

The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s bipartisan Nuclear Energy Caucus (NEC) recently released its Bicameral Nuclear Energy Caucus Report, which describes four options for the future of the nuclear energy industry.

The report also details the nuclear energy industry’s contributions to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and environment. The report will be sent to all members of the General Assembly as well as Gov. Tom Wolf.

“As state lawmakers, we take seriously our obligations to set energy policies that help promote Pennsylvania’s economy and protect our environment,” Sen. Ryan Aument (R-36) said, noting the closures of Three Mile Island in 2019 and Beaver Valley in 2021. “The loss of these plants would be a devastating and permanent blow to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and environment so we took a hard look at what could and should be done to prevent this, and future, devastation.”

According to the report, Pennsylvania has four options for determining the future of Pennsylvania’s nuclear industry. It could do nothing and allow the state’s nuclear plants to retire, modify AEPS or establish a ZEC program, Modify AEPS or establish a ZEC program with a “safety valve” mechanism or establish a carbon pricing program.

“It’s clear to me that only some of the report’s options are viable for preventing irreversible harm to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and environment associated with losing nuclear power plants,” Representatives Becky Corbin (R-155) said. “Pennsylvania lawmakers will have to act soon if we want to protect our consumers and the nuclear industry because policymakers and regulators in Washington D.C. have failed to address growing, long-standing flaws in energy markets.”

Nuclear energy provides nearly 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s total electricity production and more than 93 percent of Pennsylvania’s zero-emissions energy