Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski, and distinguished members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I am Marvin Fertel, Senior Vice President of the Nuclear Energy Institute. I am pleased to have this opportunity to testify regarding the provisions in the Nuclear Energy Electricity Supply Assurance Act of 2001 (S. 472), legislation to require the Department of Energy to study the feasibility of developing nuclear power plants at existing DOE sites (S. 919), and legislation to amend titles X and XI of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (S. 1147). Together, these provisions promote a robust future for nuclear energy in the United States. 

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is the Washington, D.C.-based policy organization for the nuclear industry. NEI coordinates public policy on issues affecting the nuclear energy industry, including federal regulations that help ensure a safe and robust future for our industry. NEI represents nearly 275 companies, including every U.S. utility licensed to operate a commercial nuclear reactor, their suppliers, fuel fabrication facilities, architectural and engineering firms, labor and law firms, radiopharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, universities and international nuclear organizations.

The nuclear energy industry commends you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Murkowski, and the members of this committee, for the strong bipartisan support you have demonstrated toward ensuring the American people continue to have the energy security and environmental benefits associated with the use of nuclear energy in the United States. The provisions in this comprehensive energy legislation related to nuclear energy that we are discussing today are a critical component of that support.