Leo W. Gerard, international president of North America-based labor union United Steelworkers, has sent a letter to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission stressing the US steel industries' capability to produce component parts for the US nuclear energy sector. The letter was written in response to the awarding of loan guarantees by the US government for the construction of two nuclear reactors in Burke, Georgia that could possibly use components built overseas.
According to the letter, the USW believes that the majority of the materials used in building these plants such as steel and piping can be sourced from domestic facilities employing its members. "American taxpayers should not bear the burden of loan guarantees if the jobs to be created by them are in another country," Mr. Gerard commented.