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Bill Would Create Commission To Review, Approve Coal, Nuclear Power Plant Closures
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Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Allegheny) Tuesday announced he will introduce legislation to create a commission to review the potential adverse impacts of deactivating coal and nuclear power plants before making a decision on whether those plants should close.

Rep. Matzie, one of four co-chairs of the House Senate Nuclear Energy Caucus, said the proposed commission would make decisions on deactivations only after hearing from state and local government officials, affected employees, business owners and other stakeholders.

“Over the last several years, we have witnessed the closing of a record number of Pennsylvania-based coal and nuclear electric plants,” Rep. Matzie said. “But no entity exists to examine the negative impacts ahead of time. These closings affect local economies, they affect electric reliability and they affect the environment.

“What’s worse, there’s no requirement to give any sort of notice to the workers whose livelihoods are changed forever by the decision to close. We need to have a level of input and oversight,” he added.

This legislation would provide employee protections such as minimum requirements for severance payments and the continuation of health care benefits. So it is not just industry focused, but worker focused as well.”

Rep. Matzie said the proposed legislation also would require the owner of a coal fired plant to remediate the facility and the surrounding area in order to receive approval to deactivate.

NewsClips:

Nuclear Power Plant Shutdowns Could Cut Energy Prices, Increase Air Pollution

Study: Nuke Plant Retirements Likely Won’t Raise Electricity Costs

Penn State News: Nuclear Power Shutdowns Won’t Spike Power Prices

DOE’s Perry Will Make Right Decision On Coal, Nuclear Bailout FERC Chair Says

PJM: Capacity Performance Rules Improved Generator Results, Less For Coal, Oil

Related Stories:

PA Environmental Council: Putting A Price On Carbon Would Spur Energy Competition, Help Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear Energy Caucus: Testimony Highlights Environmental Impacts Of Premature Shutdown Of Nuclear Power Plants

PUC Releases Summer Readiness Reports From Electric Utilities, PA Added 1.247 Gigawatts Of New Electric Generation

Bill Would Create Commission To Review, Approve Coal, Nuclear Power Plant Closures

More Than 86,000 Pennsylvanians Work In Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency Jobs

[Posted: June 19, 2018]


6/25/2018

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