TENNESSEE VALLEY NUCLEAR ENERGY COALITION
As one of the nation’s premier science and technology centers, the Tennessee Valley Corridor is once again well positioned to help lead the way as we seek to meet the nation’s rising needs for safe, clean, abundant energy.
One of the clearest ways to help reduce our country’s dependency on foreign sources of energy is the reestablishment and expansion of our domestic nuclear power capabilities.
Safe, environmentally-friendly nuclear power was first developed in the United States, and it now supplies over 20 percent of the electricity used here. But in other countries (e.g. France and Japan), nuclear power is used to a far greater extent. And not only has it helped with their energy security, but it has also helped protect their environments. The key is that nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases like other fossil fuel plants, nor are they dependent on unstable or hostile regions of the world for their fuel supply; two obvious and very important benefits for the United States.
Many of the Tennessee Valley Corridor’s (TVC) strongest federal partners formed the Tennessee Valley Nuclear Energy Coalition (TVNEC) to advance nuclear energy as one of the most obvious ways to help meet America’s rising need for new sources of safe, clean and abundant energy. TVNEC partners include: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 National Security Complex and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Each federal institution brings a unique contribution to the TVNEC, and through their leadership, expertise and collaboration, the Coalition seeks to play a lead role in reducing our country’s dependency on foreign sources of energy by reestablishing and expanding our domestic nuclear power capabilities – particularly here in the Tennessee Valley.
The TVNEC adopted six priorities which outline their strategy to advance this region as an international leader in nuclear technology and in the construction of next generation nuclear power plants. These goals are as follows:
1. Regionally promote the Tennessee Valley Corridor (TVC) as America’s "Center of Excellence" for Next Generation nuclear research, understanding, technology, construction, power generation, etc.
2. Promote nuclear power as the leading contributor to America’s future energy independence and security.
3. Aggressively advocate the positive economic impact and economic development benefits of nuclear technologies, power generation and energy savings in the region.
4. Work to identify and deploy other partners/advocates to help create more informed public understanding and support of nuclear technologies
5. Highlight the important contributions (past, present, planned) the TVNEC is making to the TVC and nationally.
6. Influence education initiatives already established within the TVC to enhance the supply of talented workers for the TVC’s and nation’s nuclear industry.
Next Steps:
The TVNEC coalition members plan to implement a communications and relationship building plan that can help the organization fulfill each of the TVNEC’s adopted goals. The TVNEC’s communications and relationship building plan seeks to establish the TVNEC as the Tennessee Valley’s foremost nuclear energy coalition for Next Generation nuclear research, understanding, technology, construction and power generation; educate target audiences about the benefits of nuclear energy and its key role in the nation’s solution to energy security and climate change; dispel myths surrounding nuclear energy; foster relationships with key influentials throughout the Tennessee Valley Corridor who can help spread the TVNEC’s message. The coalition is also taking initial steps to partner with some local groups to address nuclear energy supply chain and workforce issues.
For more information, please contact the founder of the TVNEC:
Mickey Crutcher
President/CEO
Maximum Technology Corporation
(256) 864-7630 , ext. 101