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Source: N.C. DEPT. OF COMMERCE, 5/24/12
Nuclear Energy Assembly 2012, the Nuclear Energy Institute’s (NEI) annual nuclear industry conference and supplier expo, was held this past week in Charlotte. The Queen City was an apropos setting, as it has been touted as the emerging national energy hub, home to some of the biggest names in the energy industry, including Duke, Siemens, AREVA and Westinghouse.
U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield addressed the 600 attendees on the second day of the conference, stating, “With lower energy costs, businesses have more money to invest and hire. When jobs are created, consumers have more money to spend and save. Therefore, a new energy future is about a new energy economy. This boosts our economy and everyone benefits.”
Governor Perdue reiterated the sentiment when she praised the industry’s role in providing affordable energy, which she noted on the last day of the event as being key to North Carolina’s economy.
North Carolina’s three nuclear power plants currently supply 90 percent of the state’s emission-free power and 32 percent of the state’s total electricity. The plants are located in Southport, Cornelius and New Hill and generated at combined 40,739,529 MWh of power in 2010. Nuclear power plants typically create over 1,500 jobs during construction as well as 400-700 jobs once the plant is completely operational.
For more information, visit NEI.org.
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