Three Democratic US Senators have proposed an amendment to tax credits to boost the competitiveness of nuclear power, a proposal that is part of a wider energy reform bill.

Senator Ben Cardin introduced the amendment on the tax production credit with fellow Democrats, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Bob Casey.

“We’re in danger of seeing the premature closing of the nuclear reactors in this country,” Mr Cardin said before introducing the amendment at a hearing considering the wider bill, the Clean Energy for America Act. Mr Cardin did not ask for a vote on the measure, a move to allow time to refine it as legislation advances.

Mr Cardin said the tax credit could help utilities keep reactors operating.