Efforts to protect the climate took a major step this week as Ohio became the latest state to take steps to preserve its nuclear plants, ensuring that its largest source of emissions-free power stays on the grid.
“The majority of Ohio’s clean energy will remain in operation thanks to legislation passed by the legislature. Ohio’s nuclear power plants do more than churn out 90 percent of the Buckeye state’s clean power, they support 4,300 jobs and contribute $30 million per year to roads, school and public services,” said NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick.
After the Ohio House of Representatives voted 51-38 in favor of the concurrence version of the bill (HB 6) on July 23, Gov. Mike DeWine signed it a few hours later.
“Our goal all along has been to save the nuclear plants, save the jobs but also to keep the cost of energy down for the ratepayer," said DeWine to reporters on Thursday.
With passage of HB 6, Ohio joins a growing number of states that have acted to save nuclear plants at risk of early closure. In states where nuclear plants are forced to close early, emissions rose as output from the reactors was replaced by electricity from fossil fuel-fired plants. Electricity prices in those states also increased.
“Keeping Ohio’s carbon-free nuclear plants operating is a smart investment to ensuring access to 24/7 clean, reliable power as well as low electricity prices,” said Korsnick. “I commend the members of the Ohio Legislature, and we thank Gov. DeWine for quickly signing this legislation into law.”
Regional grid operator PJM released a report in June concluding that keeping the Ohio nuclear plants running would reduce electricity costs by $95 million while reducing carbon emissions by 2.3 million tons.
State policymakers have recognized that in addition to the jobs and economic benefits the nuclear plants contribute to their host communities, the plants represent a major source of reliable, emission-free power. The output from the nuclear plants that have averted premature shutdown in Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Ohio is 114 billion kilowatt-hours in 2018, nearly twice the electricity produced by America’s utility solar power last year.
Keeping reactors operating in these five states is essential, as nuclear energy represents the majority of each state’s clean energy. Nuclear energy produces around 90 percent of each state’s clean power, except for New York, where it is still above 50 percent.
The next state where emissions will rise if action is not taken soon is Pennsylvania, where nuclear energy also provides more than 90 percent of the state’s clean energy. Although help did not arrive soon enough to save Three Mile Island 1 nuclear plant, lawmakers can still finalize legislation in time for other nuclear plants in the state and save more than 4,000 jobs.
Although congressional lawmakers have continued to display interest in reducing carbon emissions, the national clean energy debate is currently playing out in the states. If we want to reduce carbon emissions, we must make a national commitment to keeping nuclear plants operating and to investing in the next generation of nuclear technology. Any climate solution must include nuclear—our nation’s largest source of carbon-free electricity.
