Leaders from the nuclear industry recently voiced their support for Congress to renew the nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and China.
The renewed bilateral commercial nuclear cooperation agreement was recently approved and signed by President Obama’s administration. The agreement with China —
the first step to opening significant nuclear energy cooperation and relations between the nations — has been forwarded to Congress for approval.
“The U.S. nuclear energy industry urges Congress to support renewal of the U.S.-China Section 123 agreement,”
Nuclear Energy Institute CEO and President Marvin Fertel said. “This agreement will enable continued U.S. leadership and influence in the critical issues of international nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation. Renewing the existing 123 agreement, which is scheduled to expire in December 2015, is essential for continued U.S. nuclear energy cooperation with China.”
Fertel said the alliance can bring with it billions of dollars of U.S. exports in goods and services, involving many U.S. supply and sub-supplier companies across the country and creating tens of thousands of American jobs.
“In response to soaring electricity demand and its severe air quality challenges, China is implementing an expansive national plan to develop up to 58 gigawatts of nuclear energy generation by 2020, 150 gigawatts by 2030 and considerably more by 2050,” Fertel said. “For the foreseeable future, China will be the single largest market for nuclear technology, goods and services. It already is building 26 nuclear energy facilities, including four Westinghouse AP1000s, a design that has been standardized for many of China’s planned nuclear facilities.”
“U.S. equipment and technology exports have enabled China to deploy the safest nuclear technologies,” Fervel said. “The strong U.S. presence in China’s nuclear energy market and China’s adoption of U.S. technology has served to deepen its relationship with the United States that has brought about significant advances in China’s safety practices. U.S. assistance in developing China’s nuclear energy program also is helping China to mitigate its world-leading carbon emissions and other pollution.”
“The United States must not forfeit these important gains and opportunities,” Fervel said. “The U.S.-China nuclear cooperation agreement should be promptly renewed by the two countries on mutually acceptable terms.”
