1 of 35 Why I Joined Nuclear Matters

Dear Michele,

After becoming president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) this summer, I'm pleased to announce that I'm also taking over President Emeritus Ed Hill's [ http://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/15Daily/1505/150527_Hill ] seat on the Leadership Council of Nuclear Matters.

The nuclear energy industry accounts for about 475,000 full-time jobs (both direct and secondary), according to recent research [ http://www.nuclearmatters.com/resources/reports-studies/value-of-nuclear ]. These are well-paying, skilled-labor jobs that support the American middle class. And they matter. I should know – having started out my career as a wireman apprentice and seeing firsthand how important it is that affordable, reliable electricity makes it to our homes and businesses.

In recent years, our nation has paid a heavy price for the loss of entire industries and the jobs that go along with them. So ensuring that this doesn't happen in the nuclear industry is one of my priorities in my role as Leadership Council member.

In protecting nuclear energy industry jobs, we're also ensuring the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of American families while maintaining the reliability of our power system. It's a no-brainer for me: the existing plants operating in this country should be allowed to continue to do so. I'm excited to join the conversation.

-  Lonnie R. Stephenson, President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers*"

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