Monday, November 25, 2024

Will nuclear energy and Texas be in the same sentence in the near future? Maybe!

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog and a short holiday work week!   

By now you probably realize we like energy!  We blogged about how Texas A&M is trying to attract the nuclear industry to the College Station/Bryan area by its Board of Regents agreeing for them to apply for a commercial nuclear site licensing around two weeks ago.  The future estimates of electricity usage in Texas could nearly double in less than a decade and the promises to reduce emissions has made nuclear energy look like a possibility as a path forward.  We have more exciting news for the nuclear energy industry Texas wants you for its future of reliable and emission free power and a report which was due on the governor’s desk by the beginning of December has been delivered.  The state will be trying to convince nuclear companies we are willing to help you help us with our future electricity needs now we have the information we need from the report.   

Did anyone happen to read The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on November 22, 2024, their article titled, “Texas aims to be nuclear powerhouse”?  In the article, it goes on to speak on how a working group led by Jimmy Glotfelty, a commissioner from the Public Utility Commission of Texas has delivered their report to the Texas governor on time last week.  The report goes on to say for modern nuclear energy plants to come to Texas it will need a large amount of investment including support from public funds.   The nuclear group goes on to say like the Texas Energy Fund one should be made for nuclear build out and to encourage nuclear companies to come here.  They suggest two taxpayer-funded funds one would be as a grant and another as a loan-based fund.  They suggest the legislature in its next session should create the Texas Nuclear Energy and Supply Chain Fund which would be a direct grant cost-sharing program with the state to help bring costs down for those willing to come to Texas.  The other fund they suggest is the Texas Nuclear Energy Fund which would be like the current Texas Energy Fund and provide low-cost loans to nuclear companies for building in Texas.  The nuclear plants they are encouraging to come here would be ones willing to build the smaller module nuclear reactors not the old fashion 3-mile-island kind and most of them would be encouraged to build in the Houston vicinity where the largest percent of industry and people are expected.  The report goes on to suggest making a government agency to help manage Texas’ goals of bringing more nuclear energy to the state and in which to help bring about nuclear education programs to help with its future workforce like the program at Texas A&M.  If Texas manages to bring more nuclear energy to the state, it will mean more taxes and a good income for people of the state.  If you would like to read more of The Houston Chronicle’s article, please click the link: How Houston and Texas aim to be a global leader in nuclear power.

If you would like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and with less of a carbon footprint or just find out what is underneath your feet to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the Blog and check out our ESC website!

We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of your short week!  Happy Thanksgiving to those lucky to be off the rest of the week!  Be safe!

**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The Houston Chronicle’s article. **