Press Releases

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12), participated in a special order hosted by the House Energy Action Team, or HEAT, to highlight the importance of nuclear energy, specifically to Georgia's 12th District. To watch the video, click here.

I am proud to be a member of the House Energy Action Team, a coalition of Members of Congress who are focused on energy policy, and I was honored to be selected as the Nuclear subteam leader. This will allow me to do my part to advance our nuclear energy priorities through Congress and allow America to remain a dominant player in the global nuclear industry. The theme for this special order is the American Energy Renaissance- and I have to tell you- after President Trump took office, the war on energy and the war on business was over. It was like flipping on a light switch- America was back open for business again -- and the American people responded. We have the best economy in the world. 

Since then, we have continued to invest in our own energy resources and have successfully made the United States into being energy independent- who would have thought that 10 years ago. Georgia’s 12th Congressional District is on the front lines of the American Energy Renaissance, with the first two new nuclear reactors being built in the United States in the past thirty years at Plant Vogtle. Just in March, I had the opportunity to be with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and see the placement of the top of unit 3 containment vessel, which was truly a historic moment! Finishing construction of these two units means that America can still do big things, and I look forward to units 3 and 4 coming online as soon.

Nuclear energy plays an important role in Georgia’s energy portfolio, as it accounts for more than a quarter of all power generated and is the only clean-air source that can produce large amounts of electricity around the clock. Georgia-12 is also home to all of Georgia’s nuclear capabilities with four nuclear reactors, two already online at Plant Vogtle and two at Plant Hatch. These facilities currently employ almost 2,000 people year-round, high skilled employees and the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle is the largest construction project in Georgia, with more than 8,000 workers on site. 

When we talk about clean energy in this country- we don’t need out-of-touch, costly socialist policies like the Green New Deal.  That would devastate the best economy in the world! We’re talking about unleashing private sector innovation like nuclear power. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, Georgia’s nuclear energy facilities alone avoid more than 21 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year- the equivalent of more than 4.4 million passenger cars!

It is of the utmost importance that we ensure these nuclear power plants continue to provide energy in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner. Georgia has been selected 6 years in a row as the best state to locate your business-- a big reason for that is our low energy cost.  Overall, I believe we must continue to pursue a proactive, responsible, and all-of-the above energy policy that will benefit hard-working Americans and lower the cost of energy in this nation. The House Energy Action Team will continue to be laser focused on continuing America’s Energy Renaissance, and I am so glad to be a part of it and with that I yield back.