Virginia governor touts nuclear in launch of new state energy plan

October 6, 2022, 3:00PMANS Nuclear Cafe

Youngkin

Speaking earlier this week at the launch ceremony for Virginia’s 2022 Energy Plan, Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for an all-of-the-above approach, stressing the need for “an achievable and dynamic energy plan that provides for abundant, reliable, affordable, and clean energy.” He also left no doubt as to where nuclear power fits into that plan.

“We have to be all in [for] nuclear energy in Virginia,” Youngkin declared, addressing an audience of lawmakers, workers donning hard hats, and business executives at a power transformer manufacturing facility in Lynchburg. “When it comes to reliability, affordability, when it comes to clean power, when it comes to the abundant nature of growing power demand, absolutely nothing beats nuclear energy. It is the baseload of all baseloads. And Virginia is uniquely positioned to lead.”

Singling out for mention two Lynchburg-based nuclear firms—BWX Technologies and Framatome’s North American headquarters—as well as the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, Youngkin vowed to “work across government, industry, academia, and sheer Virginia grit in order to build the world’s leading nuclear energy hub right here in Virginia.”

In addition, the governor said his state plans to “launch a commercial small modular reactor that will be serving customers with baseload power demand in southwest Virginia within the next 10 years.”


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