Legislators continue pressing for USEC loan guarantee
Chillicothe Gazette – Ohio’s congressional delegation is continuing to ratchet up pressure on the Department of Energy to approve USEC Inc.’s $2 billion federal loan application, even as the company and federal energy officials work out remaining details on an alternate plan that would provide a short-term boost for the American Centrifuge Project.
Some lawmakers have raised questions about the interim plan, which would provide $300 million in federal funds to USEC for further research and development and keep the company’s loan application on hold until it’s clear the centrifuge project is viable…
On Monday, both of Ohio’s U.S. Senators, Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown, also talked with Chu to discuss the project…
“We have an obligation to work together to realize the thousands of jobs that would be created through (the centrifuge project),” Brown said. “That means USEC working to ensure that the project is in the strongest financial and technical position to secure a conditional guarantee. And that means DOE being a good partner in retaining and creating jobs in Southern Ohio.”
