Three Mile Island’s Shutdown Will Negatively Impact Pennsylvania’s Economy, Communities and Environment

Nuclear Powers PA Urges State Lawmakers To Act To Prevent Further Devastation Associated With Losing Additional Nuclear Plants Across Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, PA – Leaders of Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania today reacted to the failure of Governor Wolf and the General Assembly to enact energy policy reforms to prevent the premature retirement of Three Mile Island Generating Station Unit 1 (TMI) this September.

“We are disappointed and frustrated that Gov. Wolf and the legislature were not able to come up with a policy solution in time to save TMI. While Exelon has promised to provide jobs at other company locations for the plant’s employees, the thousands of members of the trades that support the plant during refueling and maintenance outages won’t be so lucky. Our members were looking forward to the work this fall’s TMI outage would provide. Instead, we’ll just be looking for work,” said Nuclear Powers Pennsylvania Co-Chair Martin Williams.

Williams added, “While it’s too late to save TMI, the Governor and lawmakers should work together to find a solution that properly values the environmental and economic attributes of nuclear power. If they fail to act, Pennsylvania’s four other nuclear plants will remain at risk of shutdown. In just the last week, thousands of nuclear plant employees and laborers converged on the Capitol steps calling for action. You can bet they’ll all be closely watching. Their livelihood depends on it!

“When nuclear plants prematurely retire, greenhouse gases increase, our communities suffer, and consumers pay more. This is an unfortunate lesson that specific areas within Pennsylvania are about to learn. However, policymakers still have the ability and authority to prevent a broader state impact, if they are willing to act before more nuclear plants follow a similar path to Three Mile Island. If our state legislators care about keeping electricity prices affordable, care about keeping good-paying jobs in Pennsylvania, and care about our air clean, then they will take action.”

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.