ENERGY COMMUNITIES EAGER TO HELP UNLEASH AMERICAN NUCLEAR ENERGY
WASHINGTON --- Communities across the country that were once home to government nuclear sites and/or former commercial energy plants are ready to help the United States today unleash the next wave of nuclear technologies, according to a new white paper from the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA).
In its paper, “From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear,” ECA outlines a host of projects either underway or currently planned at sites across the county to support new nuclear development across the fuel cycle. These projects are set to reuse land and assets from former government nuclear weapons and nuclear research sites, as well as sites once home to former coal or other power plants. Local communities near energy sites can offer a variety of advantages to foster the growth of nuclear energy, including sites with significant amounts of land available for use, as well as existing utilities and connections to the electrical grid; experienced workforces well-versed in nuclear issues and, perhaps most important, strong support for nuclear science and technology.
“Communities that have a history of supporting American innovation are eager to usher in the next generation of nuclear technologies to continue to help our nation,” said Rebecca Casper, Mayor of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and ECA Vice-Chair. “We’re excited for the opportunity to take what we’ve learned for decades and apply it to this new challenge.”
ECA also calls on the U.S. Department of Energy in its paper to continue to work with local energy communities to foster what new Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has dubbed “a golden era of American energy dominance.” DOE can take several steps, including working to finalize disposal paths for spent nuclear fuel and various types of radioactive waste, to build upon the momentum energy sites are experiencing, according to the white paper.
“The communities that ECA represents are proud of the strong working relationship across the public and private sectors ,” said Brent Gerry, Mayor of West Richland, Wash. and ECA Chair. “We want to continue those relationships as DOE works to unleash commercial nuclear power. My community near the former Hanford site, like others, have long supported our nation, and we’re eager to continue to do so to help build this new golden era.”
“From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear” can be found on ECA’s website at www.energyca.org.
ECA will be discussing how energy communities can aid new nuclear development in a series of panels at this year’s Waste Management conference, hosted by Waste Management Symposia. The conference is scheduled to be held from March 9-13 in Phoenix. In addition, ECA will be hosting its latest ECA Forum, “Moving New Nuclear Projects Forward” April 22-24 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Additional information can be found on ECA’s website.
Please reach out to ajr@energyca.org with any questions.