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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 30, 2022 11:50 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas L. Mehaffie, III |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Pennsylvania Nuclear Keystone Act |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that would direct the use of funds gained by participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to promote the production of Small Modular Reactors within our Commonwealth. This bill is intended to ensure that possible revenues derived are utilized smartly for the benefit of those communities most impacted. Nuclear energy is an important part of Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio, but our fleet of nuclear reactors from the 1970’s and 1980’s is showing its age. Pennsylvania is currently a powerhouse in one of the largest energy markets in the world. If we want to maintain that status, we must be looking forward and making sure our state has baseload power plants. Small Modular Reactors are an emerging technology that can help reduce the cost and resources required to deploy reliable nuclear power where we need it most without carbon emissions. Their design allows them to be produced faster and at a lower cost due to economies of scale. These reactors run twenty-four hours a day and can also be deployed in areas that would normally be too small for a traditional power plant including areas with electric reliability issues, or areas without large bodies or water nearby. This technology could also help breathe new life into communities where nuclear and coal plants have shut down since they have existing energy infrastructure. The goal of my bill is to bring back family-sustaining jobs to the communities that would be most directly impacted by RGGI, improve energy reliability in Pennsylvania in a cost-effective manner, and cement our status as an energy keystone for the future. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |