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[cdn-nucl-l] Former Senator Johnston Says Future U.S. Prosperity Depends on Nuclear Power
Posted on PRNewswire on June 7, 2002 and at:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/0
6-07-2002/0001742729&EDATE=
Adam
-------------------
Former Senator Johnston Says Future U.S. Prosperity Depends on Nuclear
Power
Study Questions Future Supply of Natural Gas,
Raising Profile of Nuclear Power Industry Even Higher
PALM BEACH, Fla., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Senator J. Bennett
Johnston
of Louisiana, citing uncertainties in U.S. natural gas production, told
a
gathering of nuclear power and electric utility chief executives that a
healthy American economy is directly dependent upon a renewed commitment
to
nuclear power for electricity generation.
"The only realistic way for the United States economy to continue to
prosper is to embrace more coal-fired plants and initiate a return to
more
nuclear plants," Johnston said in the keynote address at an executive
conference held by Framatome ANP, Inc. "I have been saying for years
that a
strong role for nuclear power is inevitable in our future. It looks
like the
future is closer than we thought."
Johnston noted a recent report by Houston-based Simmons and Co. that
natural gas production is expected to decline this year. If the
forecast is
correct, Johnston said, a drop in the natural gas supply could be
difficult
for the economy to contend with.
"The Simmons report indicates that a decline in natural gas supply
of only
one to three percent will be almost impossible to deal with in this
country,"
Johnston quoted from the report. "The biggest risk imbedded in a supply
drop
is that a new drilling boom might merely stabilize gas supply at the new
lower
level."
On the other hand, he noted, there are no such fluctuations or
uncertainties in the availability of nuclear power. Johnston said the
nuclear
power industry is poised to address the electricity demand needs of the
next
several decades. He pointed to the record-high capacity within the
industry
of more than 91 percent, record low production costs, early license
renewal
activity among a number of major utilities and pending Congressional
approval
to reauthorize the Price-Anderson Act, which limits the liability of
nuclear-
plant operators in the event of major accidents.
He also indicated he believed that later this summer, the Senate
will
follow the House of Representatives' overwhelming 306-117 vote and
approve
Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a national repository for spent nuclear fuel
in
this country, an initiative the nuclear power industry has sought for
decades.
His comments were made at Framatome ANP's EFECT 2002 conference,
which
gives senior executives from the nuclear power and utilities industries
an
opportunity to candidly address current events. EFECT stands for
"Executive
Forum for Emerging Challenges and Trends."
The conference, held every two years, was convened this year at The
Breakers in Palm Beach. EFECT is considered globally as one of the top
senior
management retreats within the nuclear power industry. The EFECT 2002
meeting
attracted more than 80 senior executives from throughout the United
States and
nine foreign countries.
In addition to Johnston, other top speakers at this year's forum
included
former Senator George Mitchell; Oliver Kingsley, Senior Vice President
of
Exelon Corporation; and Stuart Varney, an economic analyst for CNBC.
Johnston was introduced by Tom Christopher, President and CEO of
Framatome
ANP, Inc., who said in his welcoming address that the American nuclear
industry has a unique challenge over the next 10 years. In 2001, the
industry
achieved a dramatic increase in efficiency to lead the world with a
plant
capacity level of more than 91 percent nationwide. The challenge will
be to
maintain high capacity levels while also upgrading and modernizing the
country's 103 nuclear plants over the next decade as they go through the
license renewal process.
Christopher also introduced Vincent Maurel, president of Framatome
ANP of
France, who outlined to the conference how Framatome is uniquely
positioned to
become a "window on the world" for utilities seeking license extensions
in
this country. He said Framatome's extensive experience with plants
throughout
the world can be used to help find solutions for American companies as
they
seek those license extensions.
Johnston served four terms in the U.S. Senate, including service as
chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He
was the
primary sponsor of the Nuclear Waste Policy of 1982, and he authored the
Energy Policy Act of 1992 that contained the landmark nuclear licensing
reform
provisions. Since leaving the Senate in 1997, Johnston established a
strategic government relations consulting firm in Washington that is
involved
in the electric power industry, international trade, nuclear energy,
defense
activities, science and emerging technologies.
Framatome ANP (Advanced Nuclear Power), an AREVA and Siemens
company, is
the world's premier nuclear supplier. Framatome ANP's focus includes
comprehensive engineering; instrumentation and control; nuclear
services;
heavy component manufacture; modernization; fuel assemblies for many
reactor
designs, including those designed by other vendors, and the development
and
construction of nuclear power plants and research reactors. The
company's
vision is to help its customers power the world with safe, clean cost-
effective nuclear energy. Framatome ANP is headquartered in Paris with
principal subsidiaries in the U. S. and Germany.
AREVA holds a 66 percent share of Framatome ANP and Siemens retains
34
percent. Framatome ANP has a total global workforce of 14,000 people
and
posts annual revenues totaling about $2.5 billion.
For further information, visit: http://www.framatome-anp.com .
AREVA, a world leader in nuclear energy and connectors, includes
COGEMA,
FRAMATOME ANP and FCI. The group has more than 50,000 employees and is
located in 30 countries. For further information, visit
http://www.arevagroup.com .