The nuclear industry contributes a combined annual payroll of $2.2 billion to the economy of the Carolinas, a new study has found.
Commissioned by the Carolinas Nuclear Cluster, researchers at the Clemson University Center of Economic Excellence in Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics tallied up the economic impact of the states' 12 operating reactors, new units under construction at V.C. Summer and the Savannah River Site. It also took into account economic activity from companies serving the nuclear power industry from offices in the Carolinas. They include Areva, Chicago Bridge and Iron, Toshiba, Siemens, URS, Westinghouse and Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems in the Charlotte area alone.
The report estimated the nuclear industry employs 29,000 people in the Carolinas and contributes more than $950 million in state and local taxes. Operating reactors contributed the largest share of that, the Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday, with 8,125 employees and economic impacts of $7.2 billion.
"Residents and businesses in the Carolinas receive real economic benefits from the nuclear industry through jobs, income creation and the multiplier of spending," lead researcher Scott Mason said in a release from the Carolinas Nuclear Cluster. "This study not only looked at the impact of the operating nuclear plants but also producers of nuclear fuel, engineering and procurement companies, suppliers and subcontractors, and others."