SHIPPINGPORT – Two local politicians have called on Gov. Tom Wolf to lend his support to try to keep the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station open.
In a question-and-answer session with about 100 nuclear plant workers Tuesday morning, a FirstEnergy Corp. employee asked state Sen. Elder Vogel if Wolf had been “engaged” on the issue of trying to keep the nuclear plant open.
Vogel, R-47, New Sewickley Township, responded that Wolf is “noncommittal” on the issue and said the governor is “not willing” to take a stance until after November’s general election. After the event, Vogel repeated that assertion and urged Wolf to lend his voice to the issue.
“Anytime the governor speaks out, it could help,” he said.
J.J. Abbott, a spokesman for Wolf, said that Vogel has “no basis to make such statements, which are inaccurate,” and that Vogel has never reached out to Wolf about Beaver Valley.
Vogel’s office clarified the remarks after the event Tuesday and said he was only passing along statements he heard from state Sen. Ryan Aument, who is a chairman of the state Nuclear Energy Caucus.
Abbott said the governor is ready and willing to talk about Beaver Valley.
“Gov. Wolf has said consistently he is open to hearing from the General Assembly, who would have to ultimately send a bill to his desk, about options to assist the industry and the workers impacted by market shifts in our energy economy,” he said. “Gov. Wolf and his staff are actively monitoring the issue and stand ready to review any legislative proposal.”
U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-12, Sewickley, organized the event at the Shippingport plant and invited other state and local politicians to attend. Rothfus spoke for about 45 minutes to plant employees and answered their questions pertaining to his ongoing efforts to keep the plant open.
Afterward, Rothfus said he too believes Wolf should be more vocal about the Shippingport plant.
“I think he needs to address the issue of what’s going on here in Beaver County,” Rothfus said.
Abbott replied that Wolf’s office hasn’t heard from Rothfus about Beaver Valley, either.
“Further, we have had no engagement, likewise, from Rep. Rothfus on the issue and would be interested in hearing from him what he is doing at the federal level to help,” he said.
Most of the event was dedicated to Rothfus hammering home his support for the nuclear plant and its employees. Rothfus for months has been urging President Donald Trump to take emergency action to keep Beaver Valley and other nuclear plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio open.
FirstEnergy officials have repeatedly said Beaver Valley will be deactivated by 2021 unless a buyer is found, or unless policy solutions are enacted that could compensate nuclear plants for their zero-carbon emissions and the reliability they provide to the regional electric grid.
Rothfus, who also came to the plant last month to talk to workers, assured employees Tuesday that his “message is getting through” to the president. Rothfus said Trump is still considering enacting emergency measures, which means he is aware of the seriousness of the matter.
“We have their attention,” he said. “The key is pushing through until we get a resolution.”
One of the plant’s employees stood up and warned Rothfus that time is of the essence in trying to save the nuclear plant because once it’s deactivated, it’s not coming back.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty out there, and I know you’re feeling it, but don’t give up the fight,” Rothfus replied.
Along with Rothfus and Vogel, a handful of other politicians attended the event. State Reps. Aaron Bernstine, R-10, New Beaver, and Jim Marshall, R-14, Big Beaver attended, as did Beaver County Commissioners Dan Camp and Sandie Egley and Beaver County Chamber of Commerce President Jack Manning.
Don Moul, the president and chief nuclear officer of the subsidiary that operates Beaver Valley, was also in attendance. He promised that he’s doing everything in his power to find a solution with state lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“I swear to you my car has been on autopilot between Columbus and Harrisburg,” he said.
Egley said FirstEnergy has a “direct line” to the county commissioners if there is anything they can do to help.