U.S. Representatives Jason Altmire (PA-04), Judy Biggert (IL-13), and Mike Simpson (ID-02), Co-Chairs of the House Nuclear Issues Working Group, today released the following statement on the announcement that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the first new nuclear power plant permit in 30 years.  The new permit will allow Southern Co. to construct two new nuclear reactors at its existing plant in Georgia. The NRC voted 4 to 1 in favor of the new permit to construct the two AP1000 reactors designed by Westinghouse Electric Company.  The government and industry partnership formed by the Nuclear Power 2010 program lead to this outcome. 

"Nuclear power represents the most reliable, plentiful source of carbon-free energy that we can develop right now to meet America's rapidly rising electricity needs,” the Co-Chairs said.  “Today's announcement by the NRC is a long-overdue milestone on our path to energy independence, and we are pleased that American workers and consumers will finally have an opportunity to benefit from the construction and operation of the first new U.S. reactors in over 30 years.  With the advancement of new technologies, and cutting-edge research on nuclear recycling, the reactors that are being planned today have the potential to launch America into a new position of global leadership on responsible energy production and high-tech job growth."