By Gov. Christine Todd Whitman

May 9, 2012

The United States needs an “all of the above” energy strategy that focuses on low-carbon electricity sources that will lower energy costs, reduce dependency on foreign fuel sources and promote clean electricity. This is a prudent strategy to help drive American manufacturing and transportation networks of the future. Most importantly, this approach can put the country on a sustainable path toward long-term economic growth.

While today’s rock-bottom natural gas prices are attractive, an unbalanced dependence on natural gas in the electricity sector would put Americans at risk, both economically and in terms of longer term energy security.

While many look at energy prices from today’s lens, successful energy policy requires a long view that promotes fuel diversity but doesn’t pick technology winners; it preserves our air, land and water and is affordable for consumers.

We need only look at the volatile history of natural gas prices. Consider the shift from the low, stable prices of the 1990s to the record-high rates and wild supply fluctuations of the mid-2000s.

We should take advantage of our domestic energy resources, recognizing that today’s natural gas market is still vulnerable. The present oversupply of natural gas opens opportunities for exports into foreign markets at prices two-to-three times higher. If demand from other countries increases as they meet growing energy demand, it will cause our prices to align with higher world prices.

During my tenure as governor of a state that relies heavily on nuclear energy, I can attest to the cost effectiveness of nuclear fuel and the protection it offers against price spikes in natural gas or future environmental controls such as a cost on carbon. Nuclear energy doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases or controlled pollutants while producing power and it is affordable, predictable and efficient.  Moreover, a nuclear power plant with a footprint of one square mile generates the same amount of energy as 20 square miles of solar panels or 2,400 wind turbines spread out across 235 square miles.

Uranium fuel is abundant and costs an average of 2.14 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to 4.86 cents per kilowatt-hour for natural gas.  A nuclear plant typically generates electricity at 90 percent capacity—an electric sector best and twice that of combined cycle natural gas plants at 40 to 45 percent capacity.

Clean energy production costs, which include fuel, operations and maintenance, run nearly equal for nuclear and natural gas. A new nuclear plant with state or federal support can generate power at $84-$91 per megawatt-hour with zero carbon emissions. Natural gas plants produce power at today’s gas prices for $56-$71 per megawatt-hour, but still emit greenhouse gases at about half the rate of coal plants. Assuming a carbon price of $30 per ton, natural gas power generation costs rise to about $74-$89 per megawatt-hour.

At Fortune’s Brainstorm Green conference, I noted a March 2012 Gallup poll that found 57% of Americans support nuclear energy.

This support reflects the momentum behind nuclear energy’s expansion, including recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval of four reactors in Georgia and South Carolina.

New large-scale electricity is needed today in the fast-growing Southeast electric grid because of business expansion and population growth. These new reactors will serve the needs of 3 million homes while creating thousands of high-paying jobs. On average, a nuclear facility creates up to 3,500 construction jobs and 400 to 700 operation positions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nuclear energy accounted for 54% of green jobs in the utility sector in 2010, supplying the most green goods-and-services jobs—35,800—in private sector electricity generation. For example, 90% of the components for the Westinghouse reactors being built in Georgia and South Carolina will be manufactured domestically.

As the dash to gas accelerates across America, I am encouraged by the support from government and industry leaders for nuclear energy as part of a diverse electricity supply. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu recently restated the administration’s support for nuclear energy to be developed alongside renewable energy sources and natural gas. Kevin Marsh, president and CEO of Columbia, S.C.-based SCANA, which is developing two advanced designed Westinghouse reactors, said a balanced energy portfolio is best. “You don’t want to be all gas, all nuclear or all coal.”

Fuel diversity is one of the great strengths of the United States’ electric supply system, and we must be mindful of that lesson. In the coming years, we will need hundreds of new power plants from a variety of fuel sources along with significant investment in the smart grid that will move that power to homes, businesses and an evolving electrified transportation system. Nuclear energy is the only large-scale, carbon-free electricity source, and it must be among these energy choices if we are to secure a safe and sustainable portfolio of energy resources.

Christine Todd Whitman, former EPA administrator and New Jersey governor, is the co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition which promotes the inclusion of nuclear power as part of a clean energy portfolio.  She spoke on two panels at FORTUNE Brainstorm Green focused on “The Future of Fuel” and “Clean Energy Under Fire.”

By CASEnergy member Jerry Paul, Former Florida Rep. and current energy consultant with Capitol Energy

May 8, 2012

Recently, a number of well-funded, out-of-state, anti-nuclear activists have been distributing misinformation about how investments in Florida’s nuclear power plants are being financed. Their anti-nuclear views are veiled under the cloak of “consumer protection,” but their opposition would actually cost us ratepayers more than the cost of the plants themselves.

Certainly the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) should follow the law and apply its traditional scrutiny to ensure that the costs meet the standard of being “prudent” expenditures for these projects and to ensure that they continue to produce a net benefit for Florida consumers. It should, however, cautiously avoid the calls to reject our state’s conservative, ratepayer-focused, pay-as-you-go nuclear financing law.

Opposition by advocates must be balanced with facts about the benefits from building additional nuclear power generation. Here’s why:

Florida’s new nuclear power plant development saves ratepayers money. Opponents manipulate statistics about costs of different energy sources to claim that nuclear energy is too expensive. To the contrary, independent cost comparisons by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show the projected overall cost of new nuclear power to be very competitive. Over the last four decades, Florida’s operating nuclear power plants have produced the cheapest component of our state’s electricity mix. Although the actual construction costs for large nuclear plants tends to be greater than other sources, the overall cost of electricity is very low over time because their operating costs are low, plants operate around the clock, and the plants produce massive quantities of electricity for 40 to 60 years.

The cost recovery requests being considered by the PSC are mostly for increasing the capacity of two existing power plants that have produced clean energy for Florida over the past four decades. Just in the case of one Florida utility developing additional nuclear energy, FPL, these “uprate” projects will save ratepayers about $3.8 billion over the life of the projects due to avoided costs of purchasing fossil fuel.

About 13 percent of the cost recovery request is to process licensing for new nuclear units at an existing plant, which would save ratepayers an estimated $58 billion from avoided fossil fuel costs, an amount greater than the cost of the nuclear plants themselves. Typically, for a two-unit plant, ratepayers save about $2 billion in unnecessary interest charges by reimbursing utilities for pre-construction costs under pay-as-you-go cost recovery instead of delaying payments through long-term debt.

The nuclear plants are being built. The nuclear plant efficiency uprates are currently under construction and will be completed. The electricity already generated from these clean, zero-carbon-emitting plants is benefitting all Floridians now. The smaller amount of costs sought for new nuclear plants apply only to licensing costs, not construction costs.

Florida’s pay-as-you-go nuclear cost procedures require close government scrutiny and oversight. Remember, despite claims by opponents, none of the requested costs are “pre-payments” or “advanced” payments. A utility may only receive reimbursement for pre-licensing costs after the utility has made the expenditure itself. (Costs for construction are only reimbursed after the plant actually goes into service.) Florida law requires that the PSC hold public hearings to ensure that the expenditures are prudent. Each year the utility must be able to show that the ratepayer savings are greater than the cost of the plants over its lifetime.

Readers may recognize that the above facts conflict with reported messages by nuclear opponents. Government officials should recognize the same. With most public debates, a rational final decision emerges through a balanced approach that filters out political advocacy.

That balance is needed now so Florida can move forward with clean, abundant, cost-effective nuclear energy for our future.

Jerry Paul, a nuclear engineer, is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives who also previously served as principal deputy administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. A resident of Venice, he is a contributing expert to the Energy Information Center.

By Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and CASEnergy member and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers Jay Timmons

April 19, 2012

The United States is poised for a manufacturing renaissance. Now it’s up to policymakers to make sure that this country’s policies match our goal of a revitalization of manufacturing.

One of the keys to U.S. competitiveness is a pro-growth energy policy. To reach their fullest potential, manufacturers need reliable and secure sources of energy — a challenge that will only grow in the coming years.

Even with conservation and greater efficiency, electricity demand is expected to grow 24% by 2035. Manufacturers use one-third of our nation’s energy, so powering manufacturers is critical to powering our economy.

This is why it is welcome news indeed that four new power reactors have received their construction and operating licenses this year. Two were announced in February in Georgia, and two were announced in South Carolina late last month. Nuclear energy is a critical element of our current and future energy mix.

Nuclear facilities in 31 states already produce nearly 20% of America’s electricity. Thanks to 24/7 productivity and continuing efficiency gains, including upgrades that increase generating capacity, nuclear energy helps ensure electricity is available when homes and businesses need it. This productivity goes hand-in-hand with the toughest safety protocols in the world.

Yet, despite the benefits of this clean energy source, the U.S. has lagged in building new reactors — until the licensing decisions this year. These advanced facilities in Georgia and South Carolina will begin a new era in U.S. energy production, supporting the jobs and economic growth our country needs while preserving our air quality.

Full construction can now begin at these two projects, which already employ nearly 3,000 construction workers. Communities near the projects are already seeing the economic benefits, which are set to expand significantly.

The new reactors in Georgia will be the state’s largest construction project ever, with a workforce projected to top 3,500. In South Carolina, the project is providing 3,000 long-term construction jobs.

Billions of dollars will flow into state and local economies, and supply-chain opportunities will expand economic activity to include manufacturers and workers nationwide. About 90% of the components and materials used in the U.S.-designed reactors will be produced in America.

When construction is complete, these facilities will offer significant permanent work opportunities — as many as 800 career-long jobs for each of the projects in Georgia and South Carolina.

If we make the commitment necessary to expand nuclear energy as part of a balanced energy portfolio, we could see more than 14,000 new American jobs at other new reactors, plus another 25,000 hires at existing facilities to replace personnel expected to retire in the next five years.

Development of next-generation reactors by Georgia Power and South Carolina Electric & Gas is a critical milestone. The Georgia and South Carolina reactors underwent a thorough, fact-based process conducted over nearly four years by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The result is the high level of confidence the public has a right to expect.

The next generation of nuclear facilities will be safer than ever. As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission adopts more stringent standards, Georgia Power and South Carolina Electric & Gas will make changes during construction to adhere to new requirements.

The American nuclear industry is committed to updating and improving its best practices throughout the construction and operation of its facilities. It strives to exceed NRC standards.

The need for affordable, reliable energy has never been greater, and the clearest way to achieve that goal is through development of domestic energy, with nuclear power playing an important role. The national grassroots organization Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, to which we belong, believes our country needs new electricity sources of all types. We need to start developing them now.

Sixteen applications for new reactors remain in process. It’s time to get them moving.

Whitman, former EPA administrator and New Jersey governor, and Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, are co-chair and member, respectively, of the CASEnergy Coalition, which brings together more than 2,800 grassroots members from labor, industry, business, academia and environmental communities in support of nuclear energy expansion as part of a sustainable clean energy portfolio.

By CASEnergy member and South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Otis Rawl

April 9, 2012

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s recent approval of the combined operating license for two new reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville makes a bold statement that a new era of nuclear energy is upon us. It also suggests that this country will realize nuclear energy’s benefits well into the future.

Expansion projects such as these will help states meet rising energy demands and emissions-reduction goals, all while boosting local economies. At the local level each year, the average nuclear energy facility generates millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue, which benefits schools, roads and other state and local infrastructure. Plus, it enables each of us to obtain cost-efficient clean energy as the country strives to meet growing electricity demands.

As South Carolina focuses on job creation, it is important to note that construction on Summer Units 2 and 3 likely will employ 3,000 to 4,000 people for three to four years. Once completed, the new units may add 800 to 1,000 full-time workers. Each new nuclear energy facility represents an average of 1,400-1,800 high-paying jobs and 400-700 permanent jobs once it is fully operational.

The license approval is the culmination of an exhaustive NRC review process, which confirms the safety of the reactor site. The AP1000 technology utilizes natural processes such as gravity and evaporation for the backup cooling systems rather than relying on electricity. The plant can operate safely for at least three days without power or human intervention. This is an example of one of the many backup systems that maintain the safety of the AP1000 in the event of a complete loss of power.

New nuclear development will play a vital role in ensuring America’s clean-energy future. With South Carolina and U.S. demand for electricity expected to increase, the state and country will require a diverse portfolio of American-produced energy solutions, and nuclear energy must be part of that mix.

This announcement is truly a milestone and marks the resurgence of nuclear energy.

Check out Dr. Moore’s blog post on “Clean Energy Buzz” for coverage from his trip.

How you are personally impacted by nuclear energy:

“I grew up in Oconee County during the construction of the Oconee Nuclear Energy Facility near Seneca, S.C.  I saw the benefits of new nuclear then, and I’m excited about the resurgence of nuclear energy in our state and in our country with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) issuance of Combined Construction and Operating Licenses (COLs) for two new reactors at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station near Jenkinsville, S.C.”

 Impact of nuclear energy in your community:  

“As the Chairman of the Public Utilities Review Committee, I understand that nuclear energy is a great economic engine for the local community where the facility is located. Here in South Carolina, construction on the V.C. Summer units will provide up to 3,000 long-term construction jobs, and once completed, the new units will offer as many as 800 career-long jobs, which is great news for us when the unemployment rate in South Carolina is 9.3 percent.”

 A lesson for your community:

“Nuclear energy provides a source of clean and safe electricity to our community while boosting the local economy. Everybody wins with nuclear. For instance, construction at V.C. Summer impacts those beyond my community as thousands of jobs in other states are expected to support the project.”

 Background:

“A native of South Carolina, I earned a B.S. in Economics from Clemson University and went on to become a small business owner. I became involved in politics as a council member for the city of Walhalla, S.C. before serving in the South Carolina State House and then joining the South Carolina Senate in 1994.” Sen. Alexander joined CASEnergy in 2011.

Check out Gov. Whitman’s blog post, video interview and photo album for coverage from Fortune Brainstorm GREEN conference.

The latest unemployment numbers reveal African Americans remain among the hardest hit by the economic downturn, with the current unemployment rate (13.7 percent) for this group far higher than the rate for other racial and ethnics groups as well as the nation as a whole (8.2 percent).  With unemployment concerns on many Americans’ minds, leaders in the African-American community have joined President Obama in calling for additional federal support for new job opportunities in the clean energy sector, including nuclear energy.

A fast-growing sector, nuclear energy offers the promise of thousands of well paying, long-term jobs in communities across the country.  The industry currently supports more than 100,000 jobs, and will need to hire approximately 25,000 new workers over the next four years to keep up with the rate of retiring baby boomers.  These jobs represent concrete job opportunities for minority applicants.  Furthermore, jobs in the nuclear energy industry are green jobs.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nuclear energy had the highest green goods and services (GGS) employment with 68 percent of all industry jobs classified as a green job.

Energy is tied to our economy, and our future is dependent upon equitable access to energy. “To win the future, we have to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world, tapping the creativity and imagination of our people,” say AABE leaders.  As an essential element of an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, nuclear energy can help “win” a clean energy future for Americans across the country.

Check out CASEnergy’s employment brochure to learn more about educational opportunities available in your community today to help you embark on a career in nuclear energy!

In his opinion-editorial, “Nuclear Reactor Approval Marks Milestone,” which ran in South Carolina’s largest newspaper, Rawl highlights how new nuclear development will play a vital role in ensuring America’s clean-energy future while also stimulating local economies. He writes:

“Expansion projects such as these will help states meet rising energy demands and emissions-reduction goals, all while boosting local economies. At the local level each year, the average nuclear energy facility generates millions of dollars in state and local tax revenue, which benefits schools, roads and other state and local infrastructure. Plus, it enables each of us to obtain cost-efficient clean energy as the country strives to meet growing electricity demands.”

In addition to creating 3,000 long-term construction jobs and up to 800 career-long jobs, construction of the two new reactors at South Carolina’s V.C. Summer nuclear facility will support other manufacturing industries by providing a substantial boost to suppliers of commodities like concrete, steel and piping as well as manufacturers of hundreds of components. In fact, each year, the average 1,000 megawatt (MW) nuclear energy facility generates approximately $470 million a year in total economic output for the local community!

Read Rawl’s op-ed here.