Hoyer (left), Upton and Waxman have all accepted donations from the industry. | AP Photos Nuclear lobbyists' clout felt on Hill

Facing its biggest crisis in 25 years, the U.S. nuclear power industry can count on plenty of Democratic and Republican friends in both high and low places.

During the past election cycle alone, the Nuclear Energy Institute and more than a dozen companies with big nuclear portfolios have spent tens of millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions to lawmakers in key leadership slots and across influential state delegations.


The donations and lobbying funds came at a critical moment for the nuclear industry as its largest trade group and major companies pushed for passage of a cap-and-trade bill.

While that effort failed, the money is sure to keep doors open on Capitol Hill as lawmakers consider any response to the safety issues highlighted by multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns in Japan in the aftermath of last week’s monster earthquake and tsunami.

“The bottom line is you’ve got a variety of industrial interests that care about nuclear power and have a heck of a lot of money to spend if their business and their bottom line is put in political jeopardy,” said Dave Levinthal, communications director at the Center for Responsive Politics. “As Congress is talking about potentially diving deeper, these companies bring a lot of resources and a heck of a lot of cash to bear if this fight goes forward.”

NEI, the industry’s biggest voice in Washington, for example, spent $3.76 million to lobby the federal government and an additional $323,000 through its political action committee on a bipartisan congressional slate, including 134 House and 30 Senate candidates, according to data compiled by the CRP.

Alex Flint, NEI’s senior vice president for government affairs, said the spending is a byproduct of record high demand for his industry.

“The fact that the day after the election, both the president and [House Speaker John Boehner] said nuclear was an area where it’s something they can agree, it’s made us that much more in demand,” Flint said. “Our lobbying expenses have gone up more in large part because we have more people talking to more members of Congress.”

Nearly all of the investor-owned power companies that operate U.S. nuclear reactors play in the donation game.

Exelon, the owner of the nation’s largest nuclear fleet, gave nearly $515,000 during the 2009-10 election cycle. The company contributed to more Democrats than Republicans (58 percent to 40 percent), though it made sure to cover all of the key bases. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) got the $10,000 limit from Exelon for primary and general election fights, while California Rep. Henry Waxman’s campaign account received $5,000.

The Chicago-based company also made sure not to forget its allies in the state, where it owns 11 nuclear reactors. Contributions last election cycle went to 14 of the 19 current members in the state’s House delegation, with only Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky and GOP freshmen Joe Walsh, Robert Dold, Randy Hultgren and Bobby Schilling getting left out.

Other power companies with large nuclear reactor fleets have also been big givers.

New Orleans-based Entergy spent $400,000 on congressional candidates in 2009 and 2010. The donations covered members in several states beyond its immediate service area, with money going to lawmakers who represent states with the company’s nuclear reactors, including all four members of the Arkansas House delegation, 12 members of New York’s House delegation and five congressmen who represent Michigan. Even Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), one of the nuclear industry’s most vocal critics, took a $3,500 check from Entergy.

Florida Power & Light, which operates four nuclear reactors in Miami and Fort Pierce, as well as reactors in New Hampshire and Illinois, donated $507,000 in 2009 and 2010. Nearly the entire Florida House delegation (26 of 28 members) took campaign donations from FPL, and the company also donated $5,000 to GOP Sen. Marco Rubio’s campaign, as well as $10,000 to then-Gov. Charlie Crist’s unsuccessful Senate bid.

Duke Energy donated $475,000 to congressional candidates, with a focus on North Carolina (12 of 13 House members) and South Carolina (five of six members). The Charlotte-based company also donated the $10,000 limit to Boehner (R-Ohio) and Hoyer. In the Senate, Duke gave the most during the past cycle to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) ($14,400).

“We certainly are proud of the fact we’re engaged in the political process,” Duke spokesman Tom Williams said. “We intend to continue to be engaged. We’re the third-biggest utility in the country, and we think it’s important to be active in that process. The whole intent is to represent the interests of our customers and our shareholders.”

Democratic and GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill said Tuesday they are concerned about the safety issues raised in Japan but they were not fazed by the donations.

“I can’t even name the companies I’ve received checks from, but, in my view, nuclear power is essential; we have to have it to meet our demand, that it’s an industry that over time has been safe,” said House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), who took $4,000 from Duke, $2,000 from Southern Co. and $2,000 from Exelon.

Brown said he wasn’t aware of his donations from Duke. “I’ve never been pro-nuke anyway,” he said. “I think we need to look at what our nuclear power plants are able to withstand and where they are. I think this does make us think again about how safe nuclear power is.”