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Greater Pittsburgh Chamber: Bills To Aid Nuclear Power Plants Do Not Strike Balance Between A Healthy Environment, Healthy Economy

On April 25, Matt Smith, President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce issued this statement on pending legislation to provide financial aid to Pennsylvania's nuclear power plants (House Bill 11, Senate Bill 510)--

“The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the advocacy arm of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, stands in opposition to the current legislative proposals designed to support the continued operation of nuclear power plants across the Commonwealth (HB 11, SB 510).

"These proposals will stifle future job creation and cripple our ability to attract and retain business investment due to the higher cost of doing business that would result. We also believe these proposals fall short of fulfilling our state’s and region’s need for diverse and economical energy.

“One key pillar of our agenda is support for a more competitive operating environment for employers.

"The proposed legislation would in effect tip the scales toward support of one energy sector and interrupt the natural flow of free and competitive markets, making electricity more expensive for consumers and businesses alike.

"This added cost of doing business in Pennsylvania sends the wrong message to those we are seeking to attract and retain.

"The opportunity lost in future job creation, due to an unfavorable business climate, far outweighs any short-term, temporary fix these proposals purport to create.

“For the past year, the Allegheny Conference – working with partners in the business, academic, government, nonprofit and philanthropic communities – has developed a set of sustainability principles designed to guide our region in maintaining a thriving economy while enhancing our environment and quality of place.

"We believe we can have both improved economic growth and quality of life.

"We’ve assessed the current legislative proposals through this sustainability framework, which embraces both of these objectives, and concluded that the proposals do not strike the right balance between a healthy environment and a healthy economy.

"For this reason and those outlined above, we oppose this legislation.”

NewsClips:

Caruso: Fossil Fuel Industry Poll Finds Pennsylvanians Uninformed About Proposal To Aid Nuclear Power Plants

Maykuth: Solar, Wind Energy Advocates May Hold Swing Vote In Nuclear Rescue Debate

Cusick: PUC Commissioner Place Speaks Out Against Senate Nuclear Power Plant Bill

PA PUC Commissioner Blasts State’s Nuclear Bailout Bill

PUC Commissioner Voices Opposition to Nuclear Subsidy Bill

Millions On The Line For Municipalities If TMI Closes, Local Officials Say

Rally Held To Support Bill That Would Save TMI

Caruso: Anti-Nuclear Activists Cry Foul Over Exelon/TMI’s Request To Use Decommissioning Dollars For Radioactive Waste Storage

Cusick: Legacy Of TMI, Gas Industry Makes Nuclear Subsidies Uphill Battle In PA

Small Businesses Fear Huge Electric Bill Increases Under $500M Nuclear Power Plant Proposal