State Representatives Pauline Wendzel and Joey Andrews have been named to the inaugural class of Nuclear State Champions, a national recognition from Nuclear Matters honoring state leaders advancing nuclear energy policy.

Both Wendzel and Andrews have been supporters of the effort to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Van Buren County, and they are the only state lawmakers to make the Nuclear Champions list, along with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Katherine Peretick of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Wendzel is chair of the Michigan House Energy Committee and says the state is helping lead what she called a “Great American Nuclear Renaissance,” pointing to the Palisades project. If successful, Palisades will become the first restarted commercial nuclear reactor in U.S. history.

Earlier this term, the Michigan House approved a nuclear energy package, including legislation sponsored by Wendzel to create manufacturing tax credits for small modular reactors.

Meanwhile, Andrews has backed similar legislation and says it’s “a tremendous honor to be a part of the inaugural class of Nuclear State Champions.”