WASHINGTON - The nuclear energy industry's main trade group spent $320,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government, according to a recent disclosure form.
The Nuclear Energy Institute, whose members include Duke Energy Corp. and Exelon Corp., lobbied on legislation dealing with power grid reliability, uranium issues, trade agreements, and climate change, according to the amended report posted online April 21 by the House clerk's office.
The NEI spent $1.3 million to lobby the federal government in 2007.
A handful of power companies last year submitted the first applications for new nuclear reactors in the U.S. in nearly 30 years, but none has committed to building the multibillion-dollar plants.
Besides Congress, the nuclear group lobbied the White House, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy and others in the first three months of the year.