Because of the constant determination of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., the U.S. Senate recently passed the bipartisan Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act by a vote of 88-2.
The ADVANCE Act, in addition to directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline its regulatory process, will help energy communities redevelop former generation stations for future nuclear energy projects. Thanks to these actions, coupled with legislative action, West Virginia now has an opportunity to branch into nuclear energy production and can remain a powerhouse of national energy production.
Over the next decade and a half, more than half of all electricity generated in West Virginia reaches retirement age. At the same time, our energy demands are expected to increase. As we’ve always known, energy is critical to encouraging investment in our state, growing our manufacturing and high-tech industry bases and keeping good-paying jobs.
Repurposing power plants for nuclear energy is both innovative and important to securing our energy needs and continuing to provide affordable and reliable energy to everyone across the state.
This is why, two years ago, I worked with my colleagues in the West Virginia Legislature to champion and pass Senate Bill 4, which repealed the state’s ban on the construction of new nuclear generating stations. The closure of a power plant has a significant impact on a community. Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) can use a retired plant’s existing infrastructure and connection to the electrical grid and bring an economic driver back to communities across the state.
Capito understands the economic opportunity for West Virginia and continues to work to ensure federal support for our state to move forward. Meanwhile, the Inflation Reduction Act included clean-energy production and investment tax credits that could reduce nuclear reactor construction costs by 50%.
The CHIPS and Science Act included $800 million to help states and utilities finance coal for nuclear energy projects. The ADVANCE Act builds upon efforts from Capito and Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., providing additional incentives for the development of former coal-powered sites.
Our state has long produced firm and reliable energy while providing good-paying union jobs. A recent U.S. Department of Energy report identified six retired coal plant sites owned by American Electric Power and FirstEnergy as good candidates to convert to small modular reactors. Those potential reactors, in addition to firm and reliable energy, produce additional critical industrial needs like heat and steam.
With nuclear energy, our state can continue to deliver the power for not just the state but the nation, while providing good-paying union jobs and maintaining communities.
I’ve had the opportunity to see nuclear plants up close to observe their 24/7/365 production in safe, reliable conditions, touring the North Anna Nuclear plant in neighboring Virginia with Dominion Energy, as well as reactors in France, where fuel is recycled and reused safely.
I look forward to continued work with my colleagues in the Legislature to ensure our state doesn’t miss out on or waste this opportunity and the efforts of Sen. Capito and her staff to bring nuclear energy to West Virginia.