This important legislation is the first step in addressing the stalemate on a sustainable used fuel program that has persisted for almost a decade and has caused taxpayers to be saddled with billions in costs because the government is 20 years late in picking up the used fuel. The legislation provides a path forward for all stakeholders.
Today, used nuclear fuel is stored safely and securely on-site at nuclear energy facilities around the country. However, the government’s failure to meet its statutory obligation to pick up the nation’s used nuclear fuel has cost taxpayers over $6 billion. While there will continue to be a significant impact on taxpayers while further legislative action is pending, H.R. 3053 paves the way for this obligation to finally be met. Importantly, this bill will allow the U.S. to move forward on consolidated interim storage which will help expedite the removal of used fuel from local communities and allow them to begin to redevelop the sites while the permanent repository undergoes final consideration and construction.
We thank Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, Environment Subcommittee Chairman Shimkus and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Tonko who worked diligently to resolve these longstanding fuel storage issues.
Nuclear energy plays an essential role in our country’s clean energy future. The generation of electricity from nuclear plants contributes no carbon dioxide or air pollution and is among the country’s largest sources of clean energy. Reducing nuclear’s role in our energy portfolio could have devastating environmental impacts to our country and make it nearly impossible for us to meet our clean energy or carbon reduction goals. Nuclear energy produces more clean electricity than all other sources combined, and is the only source that can produce large amounts of electricity around the clock, 365 days a year. Overall, nuclear accounted for 60 percent of America’s clean energy generation in 2016.
The carbon-free benefits of nuclear are immense. Every year, nuclear-generated electricity saves our atmosphere from more than 555 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise come from fossil fuels. That’s the same as taking 119 million passenger vehicles off the road, which is more than every passenger vehicle currently on the road in the United States. Additionally, the energy provided by nuclear avoids over 500 million tons of carbon and 650,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions each year. The combined social cost of these emissions is valued at $33.4 billion annually.
Advanced nuclear technology has the potential to prevent even more greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels are currently the only energy source capable of reaching high enough temperatures to power industrial furnaces, which emit 1.4 trillion tons of greenhouse gasses annually. While renewable energy sources and current nuclear reactors cannot reach temperatures needed for industrial furnaces, some advanced reactors have the potential to replace fossil fuels for this and other purposes.
We have seen attempts to phase out nuclear energy create devastating environmental impacts internationally and in states throughout the U.S. In Germany, the phase-out of nuclear plants is estimated to have caused a 25 million ton increase in carbon emissions. In the U.S., states that have closed nuclear plants have seen significant increases in carbon emissions. In California, closing the San Onofre plant in 2012 contributed to a 35 percent increase in carbon emissions, and Vermont witnessed a 650,000 ton increase in just the two months following the closure of the Vermont Yankee plant. The detrimental impact of phasing out nuclear energy is clear. In the fight against climate change, supporting nuclear plants and investing in advanced nuclear technology could be a difference maker.
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