As Three Mile Island Unit 1 Closes, Hundreds Rally in Western PA to Urge Policymakers to Prevent Premature Closure of Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station

Nuclear Powers PA Calls For State Action To Prevent Further Negative Impacts to Consumers, Workers and the Environment

BEAVER COUNTY, PA – Hundreds of Pennsylvanians gathered on the steps of the Beaver County Courthouse today to demand action by the state legislature and Governor Wolf to enact energy policy reforms to prevent the premature and unnecessary retirement of the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in 2021. The threat of closure is all too real for this western Pennsylvania community as the rally comes on the same day that the Three Mile Island Generating Station Unit 1 (TMI) closes forever – a full 15 years before its operating license was set to expire – leading to the elimination of 675 full-time jobs and delivering a devastating economic blow to that region of Pennsylvania. TMI’s closure is also a blow to Pennsylvania’s environment. Since 2000, TMI Unit 1 has offset more than 95 million metric tons of carbon, the equivalent of nearly 20 million cars off the road.

“The legislature and Gov. Wolf failed to act in time to save TMI – they must act now to prevent further economic and environmental damage to our Pennsylvania communities,” said Dan Onuska with IBEW Local 29. “When nuclear plants shut down, our state loses a zero-emission source of electricity and diversity on the energy grid. Our state loses reliable and affordable electricity that powers small and big businesses alike. And our state loses the ability to keep our air clean for Pennsylvanians of all generations.”

Among those attending today’s rally were State Representatives Rob Matzie, Jim Marshall and Josh Kail; Michael Rubino, executive director, United Way of Beaver County; Jack Manning, executive director, Beaver Valley Chamber of Commerce; Alan Fritz, superintendent, South Side School District; Danielle Ramaley, director of market development at Westinghouse and many others.

Closing a nuclear power plant such as Beaver Valley and TMI is an irreversible decision, one that will have long-lasting consequences. “All Pennsylvanians should be alarmed by this prospect,” added NPP Co-Chair Martin Williams. “We can learn from other states, such as Illinois, New York, Ohio, New Jersey and Connecticut, who have adopted zero-emission credit programs which have enabled them to keep nuclear plants operating to protect the environment and save thousands of jobs. Pennsylvania must take legislative action or risk more closures.”

Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania began as an effort to educate all Pennsylvanians about the economic and environmental benefits of nuclear energy. More recently, they have advocated for the passage of common-sense legislation that would properly value the role nuclear energy plays to keep our air cleaner by avoiding harmful emissions, keep electricity prices stable, and maintain thousands of jobs for our fellow Pennsylvanians.

About Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s nuclear energy industry provides millions of families and businesses with safe, reliable and carbon-free electricity. Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania is a statewide coalition that works to educate all Pennsylvanians about the economic and environmental benefits of nuclear energy and the industry’s positive impact on local communities throughout the Keystone State.

Learn more at www.NuclearPowersPennsylvania.com. Follow NPP on Twitter @NuclearPowersPA.