House Votes To Extend Nuclear Tax Credit, Why It Matters In Georgia

The House unanimously voted to extend a nuclear tax credit on Tuesday. This legislation, H.R. 1551 (introduced by Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC)), would lift the deadline for nuclear reactors to be working by 2020 in order to receive the existing tax credit. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate.

The bill has particular importance to Georgia and South Carolina, the only two states where new nuclear power reactors are under construction.

Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga-12) represents the district containing one of those new construction projects, two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle. Which according to his press release, will likely not meet the current 2020 deadline.

The extension helps preserve the $800 million in tax credits Georgia Power is relying on to fund the Plant Vogtle project and might save the jobs of some of the more than 6000 individuals who work at the plant and live in Georgia’s 12th congressional district.

Rick Allen issued a statement praising this new legislation, “I was proud to support this legislation which will help to expand our nation’s nuclear energy resources, at no cost to taxpayers. My district is leading the way in this expansion, constructing two of the first new nuclear reactors in the United States in more than 30 years. In order to continue to be a dominant player in the global nuclear industry, invest in our own energy independence, and provide clean, low cost energy to Georgians, we must do all we can to continue these projects– the future of nuclear energy in America depends on it.”