Energy Future PA cheers planned restart of TMI Unit 1

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Energy Future PA Co-chairs Kate Harper and Conor Lamb cheered today’s announcement from Constellation that it is planning to restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear power plant, which was shuttered in 2019 due to economic  and financial considerations.

The following is a joint statement Harper and Lamb. Harper is a Republican former Pa. State Representative from Montgomery County, and Lamb is a Democratic former U.S. Congressman from Allegheny County:

“Pennsylvania has long been a national leader in nuclear energy production. We rank No. 2 among all states for nuclear power generation. As demand for electricity continues to rapidly grow, Pennsylvania needs to build on that legacy of leadership by developing more clean, reliable energy sources to ensure that when we flip the switch, we can all keep our lights on.

“Three Mile Island Unit 1 is a tremendously valuable clean energy resource for Pennsylvania, and it has the potential to add approximately 835 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the grid. That’s safe, reliable, clean energy that is desperately needed for grid stability.

“This is what we mean at Energy Future PA when we talk about implementing solution-driven energy actions that power our economy and strengthen our communities. The planned restart of Three Mile Island has the potential to create hundreds of full-time, family-sustaining jobs, not to mention the indirect jobs that would be supported across the local and state economy.

“These are huge investments, to the tune of $1.6 billion, that have the potential to catapult Pennsylvania to the forefront of the clean energy revolution. That’s a win for workers, consumers and all Pennsylvanians.”

Energy Future PA is a nonpartisan coalition of independent organizations focused on securing Pennsylvania’s leadership in a new, decarbonized energy economy. The coalition endorses a comprehensive suite of energy solutions to help meet the nation’s future energy needs and bolster reliability of the nation’s power grid – including renewables, low-to-zero carbon sources such as clean hydrogen, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage technologies. Energy Future PA believes in a people-first strategy that preserves and expands jobs, powering the economy and strengthening communities. Learn more at EnergyFuturePA.org.