NEWS RELEASE

Third Way's Nuclear Energy Strategy Report Is Positive Policy Roadmap

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Following is a statement from the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Richard Myers, vice president for policy development, planning and supplier programs, on the New Millennium Nuclear Energy Partnership’s recommendations to maximize the benefits of nuclear energy. The partnership was established by the Washington-based public policy organization Third Way.

“The New Millennium Partnership has laid out an excellent, consensus approach to capitalize on the significant economic and environmental benefits of nuclear energy at home and abroad.

“The report accurately identifies the importance of reforming U.S. nuclear export regulations, which hamstring U.S. suppliers’ ability to compete in the rapidly expanding international marketplace and to influence global safety and nuclear nonproliferation policy.

“It is essential that commercial nuclear energy trade be well-coordinated within the administration so U.S. companies can compete in the world market with suppliers from other nations. Doing so will ensure the highest possible levels of nuclear plant safety and reliability, maintain and expand U.S. influence over nonproliferation policies and practices, and create thousands of American jobs.

“The report also recognizes the challenges associated with financing new nuclear energy facilities in the United States. These are large projects being built by relatively small companies. Financing them (and other critical infrastructure) will require public-private partnerships using all the tools available to the private sector and federal and state governments.

“The Third Way report recognizes the strategic importance of the clean energy loan guarantee program created by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, and the need to improve the management of the program.

“The Nuclear Energy Institute welcomes the opportunity to explore this positive contribution to U.S. energy policy in greater depth with federal policymakers.”