The House this week voted unanimously in favor of  House Resolution 750 (Godshall-R- Montgomery) which directs the President and Congress to adopt the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future and pass legislation enabling the construction of one or more centralized interim nuclear fuel storage facilities.

After two years of fact-finding and intense study, the Blue Ribbon Commission endorsed a number of strategic used-fuel management initiatives, including a consent-based approach for sighting interim nuclear fuel storage facilities.

"The Pennsylvania Energy Alliance fully supports these initiatives and finds them integral to the future of nuclear energy in America," said Executive Director Melissa Grimm. "We agree it is time for the government to pursue efforts to consolidate used fuel on an interim basis, especially for fuel located on sites without an operating nuclear reactor."

Grimm noted that Pennsylvania utility ratepayers have already contributed more than $3.2 billion in fees and interest to the Nuclear Waste Fund since it was mandated in 1982. Because of this, it is necessary that these funds be used to solve the issues of used nuclear fuel storage. The PA Energy Alliance applauds Representative Robert Godshall and his colleagues in the House who worked to bring this important, bi-partisan resolution forward.

In May, the PA Energy Alliance released results of a statewide survey that shows a strong majority of Pennsylvanians continues to support the use of nuclear energy. Of the 700 Pennsylvania residents that were polled, nearly 9 of 10 respondents believe the use of nuclear power is an important part of meeting the United States' electricity needs.

The complete poll is available online.

7/2/2012