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Washington, D.C. - Recently, the Department of Energy quietly informed Congress of its intent to make loan guarantees available for two uranium enrichment facilities. This move is the latest in a long battle in which Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has sought to force the Department to honor a promise made by President Obama to provide the loan guarantee to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) for its American Centrifuge Project in Piketon, Ohio. While the Department’s action does not guarantee the project will obtain a loan guarantee, the move makes it far more probable.
“We have fought for a common sense, American solution to our nuclear energy needs. I am happy to report that our efforts are paying off. This week the Department has moved to make 4 billion dollars available for the loan guarantee program. That would enable them to issue guarantees to both the Areva plant in Idaho and our own American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, “Congresswoman Schmidt stated.
In August of 2009, the Department of Energy asked USEC to withdraw its initial application for a $2 billion loan guarantee. This request put the brakes on construction and development at the Piketon facility and led to the lay off of hundreds of employees. This month, DOE announced that it would partner with USEC to invest $45 million in the centrifuge technology. It is hoped that hiring at the plant may soon begin again.
“I am delighted that Secretary Chu and his team are moving in the right direction. We have had many disagreements, but I look forward to working with them to fund the American Centrifuge Plant this year. Southern Ohio has kept its end of the bargain and we insist the Obama Administration keep theirs,” Schmidt added.
Schmidt has been a leading critic of the Obama Administration’s reluctance to keep a campaign promise. Well over 5,000 local citizens have joined her fight to hold the Administration to that promise.
“I have no intention of letting up the fight. Southern Ohio desperately needs what was promised to us. For the first time I am hopeful that the Administration will keep it’s promise. We need those jobs,” Schmidt concluded.
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