Pennsylvania Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) said he will introduce a bill that would spur the development of small modular nuclear reactors to produce clean energy despite weather conditions and sunshine.
The bill would direct funds from Pennsylvania participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to expand the reactors’ capabilities in the state. The technology for the small modular reactors would be used to replace clean energy produced at Three Mile Island, which ceased production in 2019.
“Developing small modular reactor capabilities at shuttered or decommissioned power plants across the Commonwealth would create jobs and another source of energy at a time when we are reducing dependence on Russia. Small modular reactors can provide clean, safe power without the massive investment to develop a traditional nuclear power plant,” Mehaffie said. “It is important for national security we have baseload power in this country.”
Mehaffie’s office said the state is the third-largest electricity producer in the country and has a robust traditional nuclear energy fleet. Integrating new technologies, his office said, would modernize the state’s power grid without adding carbon emissions.
“Dauphin County lost hundreds of family-sustaining jobs when we suffered the devastating blow of losing Three Mile Island several years ago,” the legislator said. “It was an absurd move that never should have happened, as the Legislature could have intervened then. The General Assembly failed us in 2019 and should approve this new bill to rectify that situation.”
Mehaffie did not say when the legislation would be introduced.