Former U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Former EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner, and President of North America’s Building Trades Unions Sean McGarvey Highlight Key Role of Nuclear Energy Plants in America’s Energy Mix

Nuclear Matters sponsored a policy discussion today highlighting broad support for nuclear energy in America’s electricity landscape, as demonstrated by the bipartisan mix of labor, business, environmental and policy voices who participated. Members of Nuclear Matters’ Leadership Council, including former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol M. Browner, and president of North America’s Building Trades Unions Sean McGarvey highlighted the many benefits that existing nuclear plants provide across the U.S. at the roundtable, hosted by The Hill. Gene Barr, president and CEO for the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, also participated in the roundtable, and the event featured keynote remarks by Dr. Peter Lyons, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy.

“The diverse backgrounds of the participants in today’s discussion are a testament to the breadth of support nuclear energy has,” said Secretary Abraham. “This bipartisanship is critical to enabling the problem-solving required to tackle what policy solutions might best address the challenges facing our existing nuclear fleet.”

“The decision to support America’s existing nuclear plants, which are directly responsible for 100,000 high quality jobs, was an easy one for me, especially considering that nuclear energy is the most employment- and salary-intensive of all energy sources in this country,” said McGarvey. “We are hopeful that the diverse support for nuclear energy reinforces to the public and policymakers just how important keeping our existing nuclear fleet operating is to this country’s long-term energy strategy.”

The event was one in a series that Nuclear Matters will host around the country in the coming months to continue the dialogue around the need to sustain existing U.S. nuclear energy plants.

To learn more or join the efforts of Nuclear Matters, please visit www.NuclearMatters.com.

About Nuclear Matters

The mission of Nuclear Matters is to inform the public about the clear benefits that nuclear energy provides to our nation, raise awareness of the economic challenges to nuclear energy that threaten those benefits, and to work with stakeholders to explore possible policy solutions that properly value nuclear energy as a reliable, affordable and carbon-free electricity resource that is essential to America’s energy future.

Supporters of Nuclear Matters include a range of companies and organizations in the energy industry, including Ameren Missouri, American Nuclear Insurers, Arizona Public Service Company, AREVA, Black & Veatch, Burns and Roe Enterprises Inc., Dominion, Duke Energy, Energy Future Holdings Corporation, Energy Northwest, Exelon Corporation, FirstEnergy Corporation, Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy, Lightbridge Corporation, Nebraska Public Power District, NextEra Energy Inc., Omaha Public Power District, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Enrichment Corporation, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation.