Municipal, Cooperative Utilities Have a Role in Nuclear’s Future
Non-operating owners of nuclear plants must stay informed about safety, make smart decisions about future investments
ORLANDO, Fla., April 13, 2011 – Municipal and cooperative electric utilities have an important role to play in the nuclear industry’s future, said Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) General Manager and CEO Nicholas P. Guarriello at the opening of the Nuclear Nonoperating Owners’ Group (NNOG) conference this morning.
“Non-operating owners own 20 percent of our nation’s nuclear capacity, and 46 percent of U.S. nuclear plants have shared ownership,” explained Guarriello. “We must continue to oversee these investments to ensure our customers receive the reliable, affordable power they demand. We must stay informed about vital issues in the industry, including safety. And, as some of us consider new nuclear investments, we must make smart choices that balance risk and opportunity for our customers.”
FMPA and Orlando Utilities Commission are co-hosts of this year’s NNOG conference, which brings together non-operating nuclear owners from around the United States for two and a half days of workshops and roundtables in Orlando.
As the nuclear industry receives increased scrutiny from legislators, regulators and customers alike, the annual conference is an opportunity for non-operating minority owners of nuclear generation to stay up-to-date with this rapidly changing industry. Guest speakers include Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commissioner William Ostendorff, as well as representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, Electric Power Research Institute, American Public Power Association, Westinghouse, Holtec International and TradeTech Energy.
“The education and communication fostered by this annual event help non-operating owners make smart decisions about our nuclear assets for the benefit of our customers and our communities,” said Guarriello.
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Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 30 municipal electric utilities. FMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of FMPA serve approximately two million Floridians.