Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future Supports Legislation Paving the Way for a Second Nuclear Plant
(Jefferson City, Mo.) Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future applauds the introduction of Senator-Elect Mike Kehoe’s (R-Jefferson City) bill that would allow site development for a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.
The measure–called the Missouri Energy Partnership Act–has an immediate impact for job creation, as well as a long-term goal of protecting consumers. Governor Nixon, all of Missouri’s electric service providers including the rural electrical cooperatives, many local chambers of commerce, business leaders and the labor community all show support for this plan.
“This bill is important for maintaining Missouri’s energy independence, ensuring our electric rates stay among the lowest in the nation, and creating good, high-paying, long-term jobs,” said Kehoe. “Missouri’s electric rates are the 7th lowest in the nation and taking action now will help keep us in that category for decades to come.”
MBEF endorses this legislation as a major step in a long-term plan for clean Missouri-generated energy, job development, and affordable and reliable power for our citizens.
“Though this legislation represents just the first step towards a potential second reactor in Central Missouri, I am pleased to see people recognize the necessity of such a project. A second reactor would not only inject thousands of high-paying jobs into the region but position the state for future electric needs. In the long run this is the way to keep our electric rates competitive and decrease the state’s overall carbon emissions by being less dependent on coal-fired facilities,” said Gary Laffoon, MBEF Co-Chair and Executive Director of MissouriCore.
Moving forward with the Missouri Energy Partnership Act will:
- Protect consumers, keeping utility rates low Under the legislation, electric service providers could not recover site permit costs until a permit is obtained (which would be after 2014), and costs could ONLY be recovered if the PSC determines that they were spent prudently.
- Provide affordable and reliable electricity Missouri currently ranks seventh lowest in the nation in electric rates. If we want those rates to remain as low as possible, we must plan now to replace aging power plants and prepare for potential federal regulations that will increase the cost of coal generation. Nuclear power may be our best strategy for providing Missouri with clean reliable power at a low cost.
- Generate Clean Energy Nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases or air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Missouri needs to begin the shift from reliance on aging coal-fired plants to cleaner sources.
- Create Jobs and Economic Growth The construction of a second nuclear plant would create approximately 3,000 new construction jobs and an additional 8,000 indirect jobs during the six-year construction period — with a positive impact on Missouri’s economy of more than $1.2 billion per year.
“Obtaining the site permit will have only a negligible impact on utility rates. It would cost the average residential consumer no more than sixteen cents per month or, in other words, less than $2 dollars per year. Nuclear power may be Missouri’s best available strategy for keeping electric rates low in the long-term, and so this very modest investment is clearly worth making, It does not commit Missouri to building a plant; but it allows us to keep the option open for now and puts us in position to receive future federal incentives if Missouri decides to move forward.” said Irl Scissors, Executive Director of Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future.
Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future is a nonpartisan organization of small and large businesses, labor, farmers, and other Missouri citizens, who understand that securing Missouri’s reliable energy sources for tomorrow means making common-sense decisions today. For more information on Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future visit www.moenergyfuture.org.
