The nuclear power industry employs nearly 60,000 workers in good-paying jobs and supports hundreds of thousands of other workers. 

The Biden-Harris Administration released a statement on May 29 announcing they will continue to build on President Biden’s unprecedented goal of a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 while ensuring that consumers across the country have access to affordable, reliable electric power and maintain good-paying clean energy jobs. 

The White House also hosted a summit on May 29 about Domestic Nuclear Deployment, where they highlighted the collective progress being made across the public and private sectors. UA Local 598 Business Manager Nick Bumpaous was among those in attendance.

This historic commitment to nuclear energy has the potential to be a game-changer for clean energy and UA jobs. Under the pro-union leadership of the Biden Administration we fully expect the skilled members of the UA will be at the forefront of this vital effort.

A new generation of nuclear reactors is gaining attention from a diverse group of stakeholders. These reactors are valued for their capacity to produce clean, reliable energy, which is crucial for supporting a rapidly growing economy. This interest is propelled by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the current manufacturing boom.

The Administration acknowledges that decarbonizing our power system, responsible for a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, is a crucial challenge that demands the full extent of our nation’s expertise and ingenuity.

Under President Biden’s leadership, the Administration has implemented several measures to enhance our nation’s energy and economic security by reducing our dependence on Russian uranium for civil nuclear power. This includes building a new supply chain for nuclear fuel through various actions. 

Recognizing the importance of both the existing U.S. nuclear fleet and the continued expansion of large nuclear power plants, the U.S. is also taking steps to mitigate project risks associated with large nuclear builds and to position the U.S. industry to support an ambitious deployment target.

UA to partner with working group to further the White House’s goal

During the White House summit that Brother Bumpaous attended, the Administration announced the creation of a Nuclear Power Project Management and Delivery working group that will draw on leading experts to help identify opportunities to proactively mitigate sources of cost and schedule overrun risk. 

The working group will engage with stakeholders who will help further the Administration’s goal of delivering an efficient and cost-effective deployment of clean, reliable nuclear energy. 

Small modular and microreactors can provide resilient energy to defense installations, safeguarding against disruptions like physical or cyberattacks, extreme weather and other challenges. These initiatives will help inform regulatory and supply chain processes, paving the way for further deployment of advanced nuclear technology for clean, reliable energy at federal installations and critical infrastructure.

The Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in Georgia recently completed two new units, marking the first reactors built in the United States in over 30 years. The project involved over 9,000 construction workers, many of whom were union members, contributing to its successful completion.

The Vogtle site is now the largest source of clean power in America, with four operating nuclear reactors. 

The U.S. government will continue to take action to enable first movers to deploy advanced and innovative technologies. 

These announcements build on the actions the Administration has already taken, which include reviving existing nuclear while preserving jobs, demonstrating new nuclear technologies, streamlining licensing processes for building and expanding reactors and advancing the supply chain and workforce.