Reps. McNerney, Shimkus Introduce Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act

Congressmen Jerry McNerney and John Shimkus introduced a bill to safely deal with nuclear waste with using both temporary storage and permanent disposal. The bill will push the Department of Energy to continue their temporary storage of nuclear waste from decommissioned power plants while also furthering the licensing process that determines wether the Yucca Mountain Site can be used as a permanent waste disposal site. Additionally, the bill will secure funding for the Department of Energy so that it can build multi-generational nuclear waste store facilities. Congressman Shinkus commented, “if we’re serious about reducing emissions, the reality is nuclear power must remain a robust portion of our energy portfolio. But a failure to resolve the waste issue will compromise this key component of any serious proposal to address climate change.”

Reducing carbon emissions is a big concern for both representatives and rightly so. Having a meticulous plan for the short-term and long term disposal of nuclear waste is necessary. With a plan for storage, hopefully we can move towards producing more nuclear energy and head towards a carbonless economy. As Congressman McNerney puts it, “this hazardous logjam puts communities at risk and inhibits our ability to integrate nuclear power into a robust emissions-reducing agenda to combat the impending threats of climate change.”

To read the official press release, click here: Reps. McNerney, Shimkus Introduce Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act