Kay Bailey Hutchison

For generations, Texans have taken great pride in our energy resources.  Oil and gas production has fueled our state’s growth and success.  Yet, even in the 21st century, almost 75 percent of our electrical power is produced by burning the same fossil fuels our grandparents relied on.  As alternative energy sources become more practical, we must expand our traditional leadership into these areas as well.  By broadening our energy portfolio, we will strengthen our economy safeguard our environment, and reduce our dangerous national dependence on foreign oil.

One of the most promising of these alternatives is clean, safe and cost-effective nuclear power.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, it is the least expensive method of electric production at 1.7 cents per kilowatt hour.  It does not produce potentially harmful air pollutants and employs virtually unlimited fuel sources. Advances in technology have made our homegrown nuclear power safer and more efficient than ever and reduced the amount of waste they produce. 

Last week, NRG Energy, Inc. announced they had filed America’s first application for a new nuclear power plant in almost 30 years.  If approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRG’s planned reactors in Bay City will use some of the safest new technologies and are expected to produce at least 2700 megawatts of electricity.  That’s enough to power more than 2 million Texas homes!  Construction of the plant is also expected to generate $9 billion in economic benefit for Bay City and Texas. 

NRG’s announcement is the result of legislation I strongly supported, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT).  The Act streamlined the application process and provided meaningful incentives, like production credits and loan guarantees, for the construction of nuclear facilities.  Since the signing of EPACT, 25 new reactors have been planned for sites all across America.

Oil and gas will always be vital to our state and nation, but we must also explore the vast, untapped energy potential of our other resources.  I will continue to advocate for increased use of underutilized assets like nuclear power that will help maintain Texas’ energy leadership and America’s energy security for generations to come.