Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, in a meeting with Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday, stressed the importance of nuclear energy to our nation’s economic growth and pushed for more information on an alternative plan to Yucca Mountain.  Simpson met with Secretary Chu as part of a 4-member delegation representing the nation’s four large nuclear cleanup sites. 

“Secretary Chu is very engaging and very articulate on many of the issues most important to our state and Idaho National Laboratory,” said Simpson. “He clearly understands the importance of nuclear energy to our base load supply and its crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I made clear my strong support for nuclear energy and my intention to renew my pro-nuclear message with him in budget hearings later this spring.”

The meeting also included a discussion of the Obama Administration’s plan to move away from Yucca Mountain and develop a new long-term strategy for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. “Secretary Chu repeated the company line in our meeting but I sensed recognition on his part that this decision presents enormous legal, contractual, and environmental challenges for the DOE that must be addressed,” said Simpson.

“The DOE has said what it won’t do.  Now it needs to articulate what it will do, and I expect those answers sooner rather than later.”

Simpson also had the opportunity to discuss the importance of sustainable and predictable funding for the DOE’s cleanup program and Areva’s pending loan guarantee for construction of a uranium enrichment facility in Eastern Idaho.

He was joined in the meeting by Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), Rep. Zack Wamp (R-TN), and Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC). They represent DOE sites in Hanford, WA, Oak Ridge, TN, and Savannah River, SC.