Advocating for AP1000® Nuclear Projects in U.S. Congress

04/02/25

We recently joined forces with over 30 Westinghouse Electric Company supply chain partners to engage with U.S. Congress members, emphasizing the substantial benefits of deploying AP1000 nuclear technology both domestically and internationally. With a legacy spanning six decades in the nuclear industry, we provided valuable insights during these discussions.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

Bill Cronauer, Regional Commercial Director for the Americas, and Ken Lazzara, Global Commercial Lead at Copes Vulcan, represented us, highlighting the economic impact and job creation potential of AP1000 projects. Manufacturing safety-critical flow control solutions at our nuclear-accredited facilities in Houston and Burlington supports numerous jobs and contributes significantly to the local economy.

Ken Lazzara stated, “A new AP1000 plant would create 30-40 additional jobs within our organization and generate millions of dollars in revenue for Houston and the wider economy during the plant's lifetime in service and support during the lifetime of the plant. More than 85% of the material supply for our AP1000 nuclear pumps and valves is from within the U.S. so the economic benefits would be considerable. Retaining and nurturing skills is a further consideration for our country. Without ongoing construction of new nuclear plants, we risk losing engineers and other critical personnel to retirement. Building the AP1000 will allow us to retain and expand a knowledgeable workforce experienced in nuclear technology. It will keep nuclear engineering knowledge in the U.S. and generate additional skilled manufacturing jobs throughout the supply chain.”

Bill Cronauer added: “As a global leader in nuclear technology for over 60 years, Celeros FT is committed to revitalizing the industrial workforce by attracting, retaining and developing highly technical and skilled personnel, while building a sustainable U.S. supply chain to meet the most demanding energy needs across the globe.”

Proven Technology Ready for Deployment

As the only fully licensed, construction-ready advanced nuclear reactor available today, AP1000 technology is ready to deliver real economic benefits to the nation now. There are already two AP1000 units in commercial operation at Plant Vogtle, near Waynesboro, Georgia, each generating enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 households and businesses.

“The AP1000 reactor can be deployed immediately, creating affordable and abundant energy as well as high-paying, highly skilled jobs through Westinghouse and its suppliers,” said Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems. “Every two-unit AP1000 project, whether built in the United States or overseas, will create or sustain more than 45,000 American jobs in 43 states and the District of Colombia, and 10,000 construction jobs for plants in the U.S. We appreciate the productive meetings we had with Congressional members and look forward to working closely to bring more U.S. nuclear generation online.”

Meeting Energy Demands

Celeros FT and other Westinghouse suppliers outlined the benefits of building new nuclear power generation in the U.S. to meet the needs of the nation’s most globally competitive and energy-demanding industries, such as high tech and advanced manufacturing. The proven AP1000 technology is the quickest way to add advanced nuclear generation in the U.S. to meet the rising demand from utilities and hyperscalers. The supplier delegation also shared that, with the ready-to-build AP1000 reactor, Westinghouse is uniquely positioned in the industry to deliver proven, reliable nuclear power at scale and at the lowest cost per MWe of any advanced reactor.