Boehner to President Obama: Why is Energy Dept Killing Project That Will Create Jobs, Produce Emissions-Free Energy?
Oct 28, 2009
Washington -
In response to recent news that the Department of Energy (DOE) does not expect to grant the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) the bulk of $45 million in research and testing funding for a proposed uranium-enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) yesterday wrote a letter to President Obama, expressing concern about the DOE’s handling of the process, which threatens to kill a project that will produce emissions-free energy, and create thousands of jobs in one of the most economically distressed regions of Ohio.
“My fellow Ohio colleague Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) has repeatedly sought answers from DOE and the White House regarding these decisions to no avail,” Boehner said. “Now I am proud to join her admirable efforts to fight for these jobs by respectfully requesting that the president make good on his past statements of support for the Piketon project.”
“The hard-working people of Southern Ohio deserve answers. As of last month, nearly 1,000 jobs had already been lost as a result of the DOE’s original July decision to deny the Piketon plant a federal loan guarantee,” Boehner said. “Serious questions remain regarding the reasoning behind DOE’s denial of that loan guarantee, and now DOE has said it will not deliver the promised research and testing funds. Thousands of additional well-paying jobs are at stake. Why is DOE killing a project that will create jobs and play a key role in our efforts to produce affordable, emissions-free energy?”
“The men and women in Southern Ohio deeply appreciate Leader Boehner’s joining our fight,” Schmidt said.
Boehner's letter can be accessed by clicking here.
NOTE: In July, despite promises from President Obama that his administration would be supportive of projects like the Piketon plant, DOE rejected USEC’s application for a $2 billion federal loan guarantee to proceed with development and construction of its innovative American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon. Shortly after turning down the application, the Obama Administration offered USEC $45 million to continue with research and testing, with the understanding that USEC would then reapply for the loan guarantee. Earlier this month however, the Columbus Dispatch reported that the Piketon plant would not be receiving at least $30 million of that promised funding in research and testing from DOE.
Throughout the ordeal, USEC has maintained that the technology to be used in the American Centrifuge Plant is viable and commercially ready, and has repeatedly stated that without federal funding it would be forced to demobilize the project. In September, the Washington Business Journal reported that USEC had cut nearly 1,000 jobs as a result of DOE’s refusal to grant a loan guarantee.
