WASHINGTON, D.C. (JANUARY 12, 2016)– Nuclear Matters co-chair, former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), today issued the following statement on President Obama’s State of The Union address:
“In President Obama’s last State of the Union address, he reinforced the importance of cutting carbon emissions to combat climate change and leave future generations with a cleaner environment. In particular, I commend his efforts to lay the groundwork for new limits on power plant emissions through the Clean Power Plan.
It is of utmost importance that we support our existing nuclear fleet, which provides over 60 percent of our carbon-free energy, in the context of this discussion. Together with other carbon-free energy sources, nuclear energy can help ensure our country remains steadfast in addressing the effects of climate change.
However, existing nuclear energy plants are currently overlooked for their environmental value. This has led to premature plant closures and an uncertain future for some existing plants, which will make it difficult for us to reach our carbon-cutting goals. As policymakers and stakeholders continue to build upon Obama’s environmental legacy, we must all work to preserve the existing nuclear fleet for their overwhelming environmental benefits, for the sake of generations to come and for our overall energy security.”