Matzie statement on the reopening of Three Mile Island nuclear power generating station

Rep. Robert Matzie    September 20, 2024 | 10:35 AM

HARRISBURG, Sep. 20 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, the majority chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee and the chair of the House Nuclear Energy Caucus, issued the following statement on today’s announcement that Constellation Energy will restart the idled Three Mile Island Reactor 1 by 2028:

“Pennsylvania is a net exporter of power generation, but our power grid is facing demands like never before in our history.

“Restarting Reactor 1 at Three Mile Island gives us more capacity and more flexibility to face demands - it’s not just clean power generation, it’s billions in tax revenue and thousands of good-paying jobs to boot, with even more jobs created in supporting industries.

“What makes this even better news is knowing there’s already one of the biggest companies in the world lined up as a customer – Microsoft has agreed to purchase the emissions-free energy generated to power their data centers.

“Now, the responsibility is on the industry and regulators. I am confident the permitting process will undergo the utmost scrutiny before the facility can re-start and I urge Constellation and all levels of government to be transparent with the public every step of the way.”

It is estimated the TMI restart will create more than 3,000 direct jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic activity.

Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the nuclear power industry, with the first commercial nuclear power plant beginning operations in 1957 in Beaver County at Shippingport. Pennsylvania’s eight nuclear reactors at four facilities today produce one-third of all electricity generated in the commonwealth with zero emissions.