Indicators of the performance that we have hereby mapped have their rightful place in the NRC's performance plan. When the NRC reports on its performance in the future, we will know for sure that we have made progress in implementing the recommendations contained in this bipartisan report. This report focuses the NRC and the utilities on real safety results. We offer real taxpayer savings by improving the operations of the regulated utilities. And nuclear power generation will preserve and protect the environment by providing emissions-free electricity generation.
Nuclear power is vital to the energy mix of the U.S. and the world.
Not only does it provide more than 20 percent of America's electricity, but it does so without the byproducts of some other fuel sources. The availability of safe, clean, economical, nuclear power is essential to our economic well-being and our quality of life. This report points out that the NRC is moving towards a more efficient and effective way of assuring public health and safety. In the long run it is the rate-payers who benefit by improved NRC operations by having an assured supply of safe and reasonably priced electricity. I was particularly pleased to see that public interest groups also participated in this study and the considerations of all stakeholders involved were an important part of the conclusions and recommendations.