Carper Touts Clean Energy Investments at Nuclear Generating Station Tour

SALEM COUNTY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, toured nuclear power and wind energy facilities this week. This comes as the Senate prepares to write a budget reconciliation bill with tax investments in clean energy.

Carper visited the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Power Plant with Christopher Hanson, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and leadership from the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). The trip included visits to the nuclear facilities and the New Jersey Wind Port.

“The climate crisis is an existential threat that demands bold, transformational action,” said Carper. “Investing in nuclear and wind energy can help turn the tide for our fight to reduce emissions and protect our planet for future generations—all while creating good-paying jobs and powering economic growth.”

The New Jersey Wind Port Facility will be the nation’s first purpose-built offshore wind marshaling port. It will support up to $500 million of new economic activity within the region and be home to multiple factories that will build the necessary components for offshore wind turbines. Once the port is fully built out, it will support up to 1,500 permanent, high-quality manufacturing, assembly and operations jobs.

Background

• At the end of last year, the Senate passed Carper’s Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, legislation to extend the investment tax credit for offshore wind for five years.

• In May of 2021, the Senate Finance Committee approved the Clean Energy for America Act, which Carper cosponsored, that included a provision to provide a production tax credit for wind energy projects.

• In June of 2021, Carper joined Senators Cardin (D-Md.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit Act, legislation to help nuclear plants by providing tax credits and greater financial certainty.

• On August 10, 2021, Carper helped lead the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which contained provisions to ensure that our nation’s existing nuclear fleet are kept is online to continue providing reliable, clean energy.