While policymakers in Ohio consider legislation to preserve nuclear plants, grid operators confirmed the value of nuclear energy in providing affordable, clean energy to the region.

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 6, which provides a pathway to preserve the state’s nuclear plants. NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick testified in support of the at-risk plants before the Ohio Senate, which is now debating the measure.

“Allowing well-run nuclear plants to close doesn’t help the communities that have grown up around them, it doesn’t make electricity more affordable for consumers, it doesn’t help provide jobs for Ohioans, and it doesn’t support our energy and national security,” Korsnick said.

Ohio has the opportunity to preserve these plants and I strongly encourage [the legislature] to do so. — Maria Korsnick, NEI's President and CEO

This legislation comes as the regional grid operator PJM released a report last week to assess the impacts of preventing the closure three nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Both states asked PJM to estimate how electricity prices would be affected and what would happen to carbon emissions and air pollutants.

PJM says that preserving the Beaver Valley, Perry and Davis Besse nuclear plants will reduce electricity costs by $474 million and will save more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide. If we look only at Ohio, saving Davis-Besse and Perry would lower Ohio electricity costs by $95 million while reducing carbon emissions by 2.3 million tons.

This is consistent with other analyses, such as those performed by experts at the Brattle Group and IHS Markit that have shown closing nuclear plants will raise the cost of electricity and increase emissions.

PJM’s analysis confirms that these at-risk nuclear plants are essential to lowering electricity bills and reducing carbon emissions in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Policymakers must fix the flawed markets that are threatening nuclear, the leading source of clean energy in these regions. Otherwise, both states will suffer major setbacks in the effort to protect consumers and the climate.