By Ryan Morden
Oswego, NY – Congressman Bill Owens is echoing President Barrack Obama's call for Congress to increase the amount of money available for loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants.
Owens says the increase could allow plans for a fourth reactor near Oswego to resume.
Unistar is a partnership with Constellation Energy and the French power company, EDF.
Late last year, Unistar suspended its plan to construct a new reactor at Nine Mile Point because it could not secure funding through the guarantee program.
Maureen Brown with Constellation Energy, says if Congress approves the amount of funding Obama wants for development of new nuclear plants, the company could resume plans for the new reactor at Nine Mile Point.
"The proposed expansion of loan guarantee financing authority could pave the way for another seven to ten nuclear energy facilities, such as the proposed new reactor at Nine Mile Point, in upstate New York," says Brown.
Congressman Owens says construction of the new plant would be good for the Oswego economy.
"What I'm most focused on is really two things. First is the creation of both construction jobs and permanent jobs in the Oswego community," says Owens.
The second point of focus for Owens is developing clean, renewable energy.
Earlier this week, President Obama announced an $8 billion dollar guarantee for a new nuke plant in Georgia.