WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke, and American Conservation Coalition Action President Chris Barnard have joined forces to emphasize the importance of nuclear energy in the United States. In a joint op-ed published in Fox News, they argue that nuclear energy can be the key to powering the world if the right policies are implemented.
The op-ed highlights the need to support the current nuclear fleet and next-generation nuclear technologies. The authors emphasize the importance of establishing regulatory pathways for next-generation nuclear designs to be approved quickly and without unnecessary costs. They call for modernizing the regulatory system and incentivizing the pursuit of careers in the nuclear industry.
To address these challenges, the authors mention the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act (ADVANCE Act), a bipartisan bill that recognizes the urgency of securing the country's energy future by enabling advanced nuclear technologies through efficient regulations and incentives for innovation.
The authors acknowledge that setbacks are a normal part of early-stage innovation but stress that they should not be a reason to abandon nuclear energy. They point out that the United States has fallen behind in expanding the role of nuclear energy, while China has been financing nuclear energy projects and dominating global energy markets. They argue that this poses a serious threat to the country's energy security and its position as the global leader in nuclear technology.
The op-ed emphasizes that countries around the world, including Japan, South Korea, Poland, and France, are recommitting to nuclear power as a significant part of their energy mix. The authors assert that if the United States wants to prioritize long-term energy security and environmental goals, nuclear energy is the clear answer.
The op-ed concludes by urging the passage of the ADVANCE Act into law. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the author of the bipartisan bill, represents the state of West Virginia. Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke, a nuclear engineering student at the University of Wisconsin, brings her expertise to the discussion. Chris Barnard, as the president of the American Conservation Coalition Action, advocates for the advancement of nuclear energy.
The joint op-ed serves as a call to action, highlighting the need to reestablish the United States as a global leader in nuclear energy through the implementation of supportive policies and legislation.
To learn more, click on this link: https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases-republican?ID=CC9E3C91-3E34-4017-8C61-8AF49A8A14FD
