[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR A BALANCED ENERGY PORTFOLIO

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise to endorse S. Con. Res. 141 
offered by Senator Domenici recognizing the essential role that nuclear 
power plays in our society.
  The U.S. Senate must recognize the important role that nuclear energy 
plays in our Nation's economy, our Nation's energy independence and 
security, and our Nation's environmental goals. And, we need to 
acknowledge that like nearly every other source of energy, nuclear 
power needs our help to continue playing its important role in our 
Nation's energy policy.
  Nuclear energy currently generates electricity for one in every five 
homes and businesses today. It is important not only in Louisiana, 
where two nuclear plants produce nearly 17 percent of my State's 
electricity, but also in States such as Connecticut, Illinois, New 
Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina and Vermont where nuclear 
generates more electricity than any other source. Nationwide, 103 
reactors provide 20 percent of our electricity--the largest source of 
U.S. emission-free power provided 24-7.
  Nuclear energy is also vitally important for our environment and our 
Nation's clean air goals. Nuclear power is the Nation's largest clean 
air source of electricity, generating three-fourths of all emission-
free electricity. For future generations of Americans, whose reliance 
on electricity will increase and who rightfully want a cleaner 
environment and the health benefits that cleaner air will provide 
nuclear energy will be an essential partner.
  Just this past Sunday, the Washington Post highlighted the problems 
that the Shenandoah National Forest now faces with pollution. Think how 
much worse our Nation's air pollution would be if nuclear energy did 
not generate one fifth of our electricity.
  According to the Department of Energy the demand for electricity is 
expected to grow by 40 percent by 2020. In order to continue producing 
at least one-third of our total electricity generation from emission-
free sources, we must build 50,000 megawatts of new nuclear energy 
production. If we do that, we are just preserving our current levels of 
emission-free generation, not improving them.
  And, we need to recognize that nuclear power, by providing a stable, 
dependable source of electricity, is vital to our Nation's energy 
security and independence. Nuclear power is essentially an American 
invention. We generate nearly a fourth of the world's total nuclear 
power and we can do so with domestic energy sources. Hydrogen holds the 
promise of helping us lessen our dependence on imported oil and nuclear 
power is one of the most promising ways that we can produce hydrogen 
economically and efficiently.
  There is a nuclear power renaissance in the making. Three of the 
Nation's leading nuclear power operators have already applied for an 
early site permit to build a new nuclear plant next door to an existing 
nuclear plant they operate, testing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 
new licensing process for the first time. Also, just a few months ago, 
nine nuclear operating companies and the two major U.S. power reactor 
manufacturers formed the NuStart Energy consortium to apply for a 
construction and operating license, COL, to test the regulatory process 
for actually building and operating the next generation of nuclear 
power plants.
  These are positive signs that the U.S. nuclear power industry is 
alive and ready to build and operate the next generation of nuclear 
power--still without emitting any air pollutants, increasing our energy 
independence, and using the safest designs ever.
  Today 29 new plants are being built around the world in 16 counties--
most using a design that originated here in America--but not one of 
them is in the U.S. That must change.
  I urge my colleagues to support this critical resolution which will 
further promote a vital source of energy while helping to pave the way 
towards improving our Nation's energy security.

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