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President Bush’s Tour of Limerick Station Spotlights Nuclear Power’s Role in U.S. Energy Mix

WASHINGTON—President Bush today visited Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania, where he reiterated his support for nuclear energy and its role in national energy policy. Following is a statement from Frank L. “Skip” Bowman, the Nuclear Energy Institute’s president and chief executive officer.

“President Bush’s visit to the Limerick power station highlights the significant role that nuclear energy must play in a comprehensive national energy policy. This visit serves to focus Americans’ attention on the fact that nuclear energy is a necessary source of baseload power that keeps the air clean. Increased use of nuclear energy will strengthen U.S. energy diversity while fueling economic growth and helping the nation achieve increasingly stringent clean-air goals.

“The president’s recognition of nuclear energy as a reliable source of clean electricity is much appreciated. The United States is going to need increased contributions from all sources of energy, including greater conservation and technology advancements, to meet the expected 45 percent increase in electricity demand over the next 25 years. The nuclear energy industry is poised to contribute with advanced-design nuclear plants.

“We share with President Bush and countless others the common goal of moving our nation farther along the road to real energy independence. Through the president’s leadership, growing bipartisan support in Congress, stellar economic and safety performance, and market conditions going forward, we believe the United States will see several new nuclear plants operating by the middle of the next decade.”