Alternate Energy Holdings (AEHI) has received support from the mayors of Payette, Fruitland and New Plymouth for its plan to build a nuclear power plant in Payette County, Idaho.
Joe Cook, mayor of New Plymouth, which is the closest town to the proposed site, and the city council signed a letter of support for AEHI.
Cook said that nuclear power has been proven safe, extremely clean and it’s an industry that will employ thousands of people, which will only benefit the local economy.
Fruitland mayor Ken Bishop said that AEHI officials have been very upfront in communicating their plans on how they will build a nuclear power plant.
"And I, for one, am excited at the prospect of having it here, where it will have a positive effect on our towns, the county and more importantly, the people who live here," Bishop said.
All three mayors also expressed their support before the Payette County board of commissioners.
According to a recent study, the proposed plant is expected to create around 5,000 jobs through the construction phase and more than 1,000 jobs during operations.
The company claims that during the phase construction alone, the project should increase Idaho’s GDP by $5.3bn, while $4.8bn will flow directly through Payette County.