Ohio’s nuclear energy plants was the focus of an event at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station on Thursday that provided a platform for industry leaders to discuss jobs, economic growth opportunities and carbon-free electricity provided by the state’s nuclear plants.
In attendance were Nuclear Matters Leadership Council members, including former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol M. Browner and former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH). They were joined by Larry Tscherne, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 245; and James H. Lash, president of FirstEnergy Generation.
“For states like Ohio, existing nuclear facilities are an important source of carbon free energy," Browner said. "The existing nuclear plants have an integral role to play in the state’s energy mix especially as we take steps to cut carbon pollution and support carbon free sources of energy."
Ohio’s nuclear energy plants, which employ more than 1,430 highly trained workers, currently produce 90 percent of the state’s carbon-free electricity. In doing so, Ohio’s nuclear plants prevent the annual emission of more than 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air.
“Ohio’s nuclear energy industry has a significant role to play in the creation and maintenance of well-paying jobs; and at IBEW Local 245, our priority is to ensure the reliable and safe operation of Ohio’s nuclear plants for the sake of their employees and the surrounding communities,” Tscherne said. “As we consider the value of nuclear energy in our state, let us remember that these existing plants bolster our workforce and contribute greatly to the economic prosperity of our citizens.”
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