Nuclear energy in the U.S. will be the focus of a Thursday morning hearing by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on which Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford serves.
Following opening statements from Democratic chairman Joe Manchin and Republican ranking member Sen. John Barrasso witnesses will offer testimony on the latest developments in the nuclear energy sector.
The committee announcement said there will be a focus on ways to maintain and expand the use of nuclear energy in the U.S. and abroad.
The witnesses include Jeffrey Lyash, the President and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority; Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower; Scott Melbye, President of the Uranium Producers of America and also executive vice president of the Uranium Energy Corporation; Amy Roma, the founder member of the Atlantic Council’s Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition; and J. Clay Sell, Chief Executive Officer at X-energy.
Democrats have been criticized for their lack of support of the nuclear industry by some Republicans in Congress such as Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin.
In part, he blames them for the lack of new nuclear power in the nation, noting in a recent opinion piece for The Hill, “Despite being a completely carbon-free option that is always available, nuclear energy has decreased in our country.”
The congressman said the tax incentives have been given to renewable sources that are less reliable.
