Aiken set to meet demands

AIKEN --- In the past couple of years, nuclear power for commercial use has experienced a revival as companies across the country look to build new power plants fueled by nuclear energy.

The Aiken Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure Aiken will be at the forefront of the nation's "nuclear renaissance."

"After several decades of America losing its taste for nuclear power for commercial power plants, there's a mood swing," said David Jameson, president of the chamber. "People are realizing that nuclear power is safe, it's effective, and it's really better on the environment."

With the Savannah River Site in Aiken's backyard, he said, the city is poised to take that lead.

"South Carolina has people with more nuclear expertise than any of the other states because of what we're doing here primarily at SRS," Mr. Jameson said.

According to the Department of Energy, in the U.S., there are proposals for 24 new commercial reactors, of which two are in Vogtle, Ga., two in Cherokee County, S.C., and two in Fairfield County, S.C.

"We want a group to really be exploring what steps Aiken can take to make sure we own America's nuclear renaissance," Mr. Jameson said.

Energy demands are expected to increase as the population in the southeast region of the country increases as the baby boomer generation gets older and prepares to retire.

"The opportunity is we have this big core of nuclear scientists and engineers and technicians that could very easily work in the commercial nuclear industry," Mr. Jameson said, commenting that Aiken has to either position itself "to be the headquarters or regional offices and keep those people working here."

Because the brainpower and skill sets of an elite, but small group of scientists and engineers that reside in the area, Aiken has an opportunity to "entice companies to locate here," he said. "I want as many of those jobs to stay here and attract companies here to do that strategic planning versus having our work force mined away from us and they move to other parts of the country."

Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com