State Rep. Rob Matzie today joined colleagues on the House Consumer Affairs Committee in ongoing public hearings to consider a bill that would add nuclear energy to the list of alternative energy sources benefiting from ratepayer-subsidized credits. Matzie, who is Democratic chairman of the committee and co-chairman of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Nuclear Energy Caucus, heard testimony from industry representatives on the potential impacts of H.B. 11, which would require that utilities purchase an additional 50 percent of energy credits from nuclear power plants…

As the committee weighs the bill, Matzie cited the importance of a thorough vetting process that includes open dialog and transparency…

The bill in question would amend the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act – which requires that 18 percent of power sold in Pennsylvania be derived from alternative energy sources by 2021 – by adding a “zero-emission power” category reserved for the state’s nuclear power plants…

Without any action, two of those plants – including FirstEnergy’s Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant – are scheduled to shut down within the next few years…