Policy Decisions Overtake EIA Projections for Nuclear Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 18, 1997-The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration today released its Annual Energy Outlook 1998. The following is a statement by Joe F. Colvin, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, in response to the report.
"In light of nuclear power's unique status as THE clean-air energy and the new, worldwide commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is something of an understatement to say that the report's projections for the nuclear energy industry miss the mark. In fact, they are at cross-purposes with President Clinton's own advisers, including Secretary PeÃ’a and the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, who in recent weeks have acknowledged the continued need for nuclear power in the nation's energy portfolio.
"Already, nuclear energy is running neck-and-neck with coal as the low-cost producer of electricity, and actions to achieve license extensions and lay the groundwork for new plant orders early in the next century are taking place.
"A serious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions demands plausible, proven technologies like nuclear power, not pie-in-the-sky proposals. The Administration's determination to achieve its clean air goals, which demands increased reliance on nuclear energy, is not reflected in this energy outlook. The policy decisions that are being made today show that the report's projections regarding future use of nuclear energy already are out of date." ###
The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry's Washington-based policy organization.
For more information, contact NEI's media relations staff at (202) 738000 during business hours or at (703) 644-8805 after hours and weekends.
This news release and additional information about nuclear energy are available on NEI's Internet site at http://www.nei.org.
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