September 3 – Congressman Zach Wamp spoke out in support of the nation’s nuclear industry and national security following a briefing on the American Centrifuge Project and United States Enrichment Corporation Inc. (USEC) Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee application. DOE delayed the review of USEC’s loan guarantee for at least six months, which has resulted in the loss of jobs in Tennessee.

 

“The loan guarantee for USEC isn’t just about jobs. This is about U.S. manufacturing and maintaining a highly-skilled, precision manufacturing workforce that takes years to put together.  It’s about our country’s competitiveness and, most importantly, our national security,” Congressman Wamp said.

 

With an approved loan guarantee, American Centrifuge and USEC could move forward to create the world’s leading enrichment facility for civilian power. The technology used is the most advanced and efficient in the world, and USEC operates the only uranium enrichment facility in the United States that can meet U.S. national security interests.

 

“A show of federal support for uranium enrichment with a loan guarantee is basically a test of whether you support our nuclear industry – from naval reactors in the defense industry, to our uranium stockpile and the stewardship of it through weapons complexes across the country, to the commercial nuclear industry,” said Congressman Wamp.

 

The $3.5 billion project would also create new, high-skilled, high-paying jobs in engineering, manufacturing, construction and operations in 26 states. There are currently 1,700 direct and indirect jobs in Oak Ridge. In a difficult economy, the loan guarantee would create thousands of jobs around the country amidst rising unemployment.

 

“We have to use U.S. manufacturers for these sophisticated national security-related missions. Our country needs to be at the forefront of nuclear technology development and the American Centrifuge Plant would help us secure that position,” Congressman Wamp said.