"With this funding, Ohio will continue to accelerate its efforts in growing the nuclear intellectual capital of our nation's workforce, already one of the finest in the world," Sen. Voinovich said.
– Edited By Chris Reed –
U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, announced today that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has awarded a $329,434 contract to improve Wilberforce University's nuclear education program.
The three-year contract will allow Wilberforce University to develop four additional courses and laboratory experience to expand its nuclear undergraduate minor program to an undergraduate major in nuclear engineering. Wilberforce will work closely with The Ohio State University to develop and maintain these courses.
"With this funding, Ohio will continue to accelerate its efforts in growing the nuclear intellectual capital of our nation's workforce, already one of the finest in the world," Sen. Voinovich said. "It is critical that we develop the skills needed to support a continued nuclear renaissance, and I am proud that Wilberforce University will contribute to meeting our country's needs for clean domestic energy."
The program will provide mentoring for Wilberforce University professors to teach the new courses, develop distance laboratory capabilities for using OSU's research reactor, provide stipends to student research assistance, award scholarships to nuclear engineering students, and improve infrastructure at Wilberforce University and Central State University.
As a former chairman and ranking member of the EPW Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, Sen. Voinovich is committed to the safe and secure growth of nuclear power. The senator believes that without nuclear power we will not be able to reach our goal of reducing carbon emissions or provide the base-load electricity our growing country demands – and we will miss an amazing opportunity to strengthen our U.S. manufacturing base and create good-paying jobs.
At a time when we are struggling to regain our economic footing, the domestic manufacturing industry has an incredible opportunity when it comes to nuclear energy, which offers thousands of well-paying jobs in all stages of development and production. Sen. Voinovich and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) will host a nuclear energy summit in December bringing together key industry leaders, the Obama administration, stakeholders and innovators to discuss and plan America's nuclear energy future.