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Read Pennsylvania House version of nuclear bailout bill

  • Marie Cusick
Dauphin County's Three Mile Island

Jeff Fusco / Getty Images

Dauphin County's Three Mile Island

Pennsylvania Rep. Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) on Monday introduced a bill aimed at keeping two of the stateā€™s five nuclear plants from retiring early.

The bill recognizes the plants as ā€œzero emissionā€ sources and creates new requirements about how electric companies are to purchase power. The measure faces strong opposition from the natural gas industry, as well as industrial and consumer groups, including the AARP.

The bill comes amid more than two years of intense lobbying on the issue in Harrisburg. Exelon is planning to shutter its Three Mile Island plant near Harrisburg this fall. FirstEnergy intends to retire its Beaver Valley plant ahead of schedule in 2021. The early closures are part of a broader trend across the U.S. as the industry has struggled amid slowing demand for electricity and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.

Mehaffie had said he andĀ Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) would introduce companion bills at the same time, but only the House bill was put forward Monday morning.

Check StateImpact Pennsylvania for more reporting on the bill later today.

Here is the bill language:

 



Pa. House version of nuclear bailout bill (Text)

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