Senate Concurrent Resolution 626

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING ENTERGY'S GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION ON ITS RECENT LICENSE EXTENSION.

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station located in Port Gibson, Mississippi, has been providing low-cost, low-emission electricity to thousands of Mississippi customers since 1985; and

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf has been an integral part of the generation portfolio of Entergy (90% owner) and Cooperative Energy (10% owner), providing a significant source of baseload power; and

WHEREAS, recent upgrades increased the plant's efficiency and generation by roughly 13% percent, making the facility the largest single-unit nuclear power plant in the country and the fifth largest in the world; and

WHEREAS, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted an operating license extension for Grand Gulf Nuclear Station to continue to provide customers safe, secure and reliable energy for two additional decades - through the year 2044; and

WHEREAS, this extension comes after five years of intensive reviews and assessments to ensure the plant's safety, operational capability and environmental impact will meet or exceed standards into the future; and

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf, the only nuclear plant to produce power in Mississippi, generates just under 20% percent of the state's electricity while emitting no greenhouse gases; and

WHEREAS, by operating virtually emission-free, the plant prevents the annual release of 11,038 short tons of sulfur dioxide, 8,105 tons of nitrogen oxide and 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide; and

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf employs more than 700 highly skilled employees and contractors with an annual payroll of $73 Million and the facility pays more than $29.5 Million in state and local taxes; and

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf provides the most affordable source of electric energy in Mississippi, an asset that has helped to attract new industry to the State of Mississippi as well as encourage business and industrial expansion throughout much of the state; and

WHEREAS, Grand Gulf's fuel costs are about One-Half Cent per kilowatt-hour, among the nation's lowest - saving customers hundreds of thousands of dollars every day in energy costs, depending on the price of natural gas:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, its leadership and employees, on its recent license extension, and extend our best wishes to this leading corporate citizen on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Entergy's Chief Nuclear Officer and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.