For over 60 years, the U.S. nuclear energy industry has
served as an American economic and energy lifeblood employing nearly 100,000 U.S. workers, strengthening communities and providing clean, reliable and carbon-free power.
Imposing additional and unnecessary regulatory burdens and supply restrictions on the already struggling U.S. nuclear energy industry could cause a dramatic spike in uranium prices that would threaten thousands of good-paying domestic jobs and put our national security at risk.
The Trump administration has taken efforts to preserve at-risk nuclear plants to ensure a resilient grid and fuel diversity for consumers by rejecting a 25% quota on domestic uranium. That action has brought greater certainty to the U.S. nuclear industry by not imposing additional and unnecessary burdens. Increasing costs and restricting fuel supply at this time would upend this progress.
An increased reliance on domestic uranium sources for commercial nuclear reactors will irreversibly deplete the limited domestic uranium supply, which is vital for national security. For long-term defense needs, the government must preserve the availability of uranium, a depletable resource. Additional restrictions on enriched uranium will result in virtual monopoly of one foreign-owned supplier in the market, risking security of the U.S. nuclear fuel supply.
