Gas, nuclear lobbies butt heads as Senate takes up nuclear-rescue bill | State House Sound Bites | witf.org

Gas, nuclear lobbies butt heads as Senate takes up nuclear-rescue bill | State House Sound Bites | witf.org: Republican Senator Ryan Aument testifies in favor of his bill to save two of Pennsylvania's five nuclear plants from early retirement. (Katie Meyer/WITF) (Harrisburg) -- A bill aimed at saving two of Pennsylvania's nuclear power plants from early retirement is getting an expectedly mixed reception in the state Senate. The first committee hearing on the measure Wednesday saw nuclear and natural gas proponents clash over how to make Pennsylvania's energy markets fair. The proposal would recognize Pennsylvania's five nuclear plants as carbon-free energy, and add them to the commonwealth's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. That law requires electric utilities to buy power from clean sources, like wind and solar. By adding nuclear to the mix, proponents hope to bolster it in a market increasingly dominated by natural gas. Gas lobbyists argue nuclear plants are already mostly profitable, save Three Mile Island, which has only one reactor. Marcellus Shale Coalition President...