NAM Updates Policies on Nuclear Energy

The National Association of Manufacturers’ board of directors approved new energy and resources policy language in a meeting last month. The updated policy language reflects views held by the association’s members, which represent a broad array of leaders within the manufacturing sector.

On the topic of nuclear energy, the updated language says:

Adopted Winter 2012 Effective until Winter 2016

1.07. Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power is a safe and vital source of cost-effective base-load electricity that does not emit criteria pollutants or greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is the largest source of non-emitting power generation in the United States and the second largest source of electricity, supplying approximately 20 percent of the nation's power. The NAM supports the continued development and operation of nuclear energy consistent with the protection of public health and safety.

Nuclear energy helps stabilize the price of electricity while maintaining a diversity of domestic fuel sources. As the demand for electricity in the U.S. continues to grow, the NAM supports the construction of additional nuclear power plants that have been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to maintain a diverse portfolio of generating resources. The NAM also supports advanced nuclear technology for use in manufacturing as a source of carbon-free process heat.

In supporting the continued use and development of nuclear energy in the United States, the NAM supports the construction and operation of facilities covering all parts of the fuel cycle and nuclear energy generation, including power plants, fuel enrichment facilities, fuel fabrication plants, low-level and high-level waste handling and disposal operations, and other related facilities critical to supporting and expanding the nuclear energy industry.

The NAM supports policies that allow the federal government to fulfill its legal obligation to remove used fuel from commercial nuclear power plants and manage its long term disposal. We support the research, development and demonstration of technologies to close the fuel cycle while a permanent disposal facility, which is needed even if the fuel cycle is successfully closed, is developed. The NAM encourages the development of interim storage facilities for consolidating used fuel until recycling or permanent disposal facilities or both are available.