“In the recent State of the Union Address, President Obama committed our nation to an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy – one that is designed to enhance energy security by responsibility developing energy sources from a variety of technologies.  However, much of recent regulatory activity is inconsistent with the goal.  New EPA rules for coal-fired power essentially constitute a moratorium on new coal-fired plants and shutter dozens of existing plants.  The federal government’s shifting policy on shale gas development creates real uncertainty on the natural gas front.

One bright spot is today’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval of a construction permit for new nuclear reactors at the Plant Vogtle site in Eastern Georgia.  After seven years of planning and a lengthy regulatory process, the approval allows Southern Company to proceed with the first new reactors to be built in the United States since 1978.

But even in light of this great development, the NRC Chairman offered a lone dissent in opposition to the four other Commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans.  Despite the newest technology being used, and despite substantial differences in location and risk when compared to the Fukushima plant, the Chairman opposed action.  Frankly, it leads us to wonder if any nuclear advancement will be good enough for the Chairman, and whether he is truly committed to the Administration’s ‘all of the above’ strategy.”