By S. T., on February 2nd, 2010
 The cooling towers of Three Mile Island's Unit 1 Nuclear Power Plant pour steam into the sky in Middletown, Pa., March 17, 2009. “A campaign is already underway to oppose the tripling of loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants, included in President Obama’s 2011 budget ( and Energy Fact Sheet) unveiled on Monday. A bevy of environmental, taxpayer and scientific groups . . . . are criticizing Obama’s proposal to increase loan guarantees for new nuclear plants from $18.5 billion to $54.5 billion. The guarantees could bolster GOP support for his bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which passed the House of Representatives but is pending in the Senate. In a letter to Obama, four groups – the National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the George Marshall Institute and the Non-Proliferation Education Center — oppose an expansion of loan guarantees for new nuclear plants. . . “
Instead of focusing on opposing nuclear plants, these groups should brainstorm ways to shut down all U.S. coal plants, which kill more people and harm the environment more than any nuclear plants in the U.S. ever have. The French have an excellent record of safety, so the U.S. could too, if it put more money and effort into it. A disturbing story about tritium leaks from CBS news came out yesterday, and these problems have to be addressed as soon as possible. Radioactive tritium, a carcinogen, now taints at least 27 of the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors
But new nuclear designs and replaced parts in old plants will help solve this problem, if they can be funded and built very soon. The “pebble bed” design, the 4th generation nuclear plant designs offer a lot of promise for safety and keeps the radioactive material in the reactor vessel. Nuclear energy is nearly CO2-free and has an obvious place in our energy future. I wish “environmentalists” who are worried about climate change (as I am) would understand that conservation is not adequate to solve our massive emissions problems quickly enough.
Continue Reading → Obama Administration Energy News
By S. T., on January 18th, 2010
 Conceptual view of Nuclear Power Plant-- Esquire Yucca Mountain Haunts the Obama Administration. By Katherine Ling, Greenwire, “While President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget proposal is expected to sound a death knell for the planned Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, the administration has so far failed to launch the blue-ribbon commission it promised almost a year ago to decide on a waste-disposal alternative. Hanging in the balance is 60,000 metric tons of commercial and defense nuclear waste. I find it quite disconcerting that a commission with a proper broad charter to look at this problem hasn’t been created, said Arjun Makhijani, president of Institute for Energy and Environmental Research [IEER], a nonprofit opposed to nuclear power. ‘I think the bigger danger is that inaction will simply lead us back to Yucca Mountain,’ Makhijani said, adding, ‘Leaving the problem to fester is not good.’
“Obama dramatically cut funding for the Nevada repository in his fiscal 2010 budget request and announced his intention to form a commission to chart an alternative waste-management solution. Energy Secretary Steven Chu quickly followed up, telling Congress last March that the commission would be formed ‘ideally’ within a month and would craft recommendations by the end of 2009. Last week, Chu responded to questions about the commission by saying the Energy Department is ‘working as hard and fast as we can on that.’ The lawmaker who has led opposition to the Yucca project, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), is confident that the administration’s delay won’t translate into a revival of the Nevada project… But despite agreements between Reid and the administration, Yucca Mountain remains — by law — the disposal site for U.S. nuclear waste. The DOE repository license has not been withdrawn, nor has the department moved to do so, according to an industry source. Meanwhile, Reid is facing a tough re-election battle this year. Moreover, some say that disagreement over whether the blue-ribbon panel should consider Yucca Mountain as a potential waste management solution is one reason the administration has taken so long to get the commission going. Qualified candidates, several sources say, do not agree Yucca should be taken off the table.”
I thought Yucca Mountain was off the table, but apparently it’s still being considered. Some people are still arguing for its use as a nuclear waste repository. (They are mostly Republicans who are against Obama’s energy policy in general). According to others, on-site nuclear waste storage is just fine for now until a better national site is found. (Some people whose land is used for this would disagree). Stewart Brand feels that the threat from nuclear waste pales in comparison to the threat from the continued use of coal. (e360 interview) and he has said that we can figure out where to put the nuclear waste later on, in another interview heard in the Climate Files podcast.
Continue Reading → Nuclear Power and the Obama Administration
By S. T., on May 4th, 2009
 The following is posted so people can get involved and help get some strong climate legislation passed this year. We have wasted the last eight years on an administration determined to undermine any caps on emissions, so we have no time to waste this year. The legislation is currently in danger of being watered down so much that it will be completely ineffective. Millions of dollars are pouring in from special interest groups tied to the big energy corporations that don’t want any cap or tax put on emissions, and it’s having an effect. Call Congress on Wednesday!
This is from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and endorsed by the Climate Crisis Coalition.
As you read this, polluters are meeting behind closed doors with key members of Congress asking for giveaways in a major climate bill so that YOU pay for their pollution.
It seems to be working. Last week, Congressman Boucher, who took $176,554 from the coal industry in 2007-2008, drafted a letter to the sponsors of the “American Clean Energy Security Act” recommending that they give away free permits to our nation’s biggest polluters. Giving these permits away would result in massive profits for polluters and hurt working families.1
With a strengthened bill, we have an opportunity to create millions of green jobs, boost renewable energy production and limit global warming pollution. Yet Rep. Boucher and others in Congress are trying to weaken it, putting dirty coal’s interests above those of working families…and the planet.
There are 15 key members of Congress, including Rep. Boucher, who need to hear from us. All of them have received money from the coal industry, and you better believe they’re also receiving daily visits from industry lobbyists.
This Wednesday, May 6th, thousands of people will call key members of Congress asking them to support bold action on global warming and protect working families. Will you join them?
WHAT: Call in to key members of Congress demanding bold action on global warming that protects working families.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6th
WHAT TO SAY: Below is the call script for people not in Virginia. If you are in Virginia, visit the website of the CCAN.
Continue Reading → Wednesday is Action Day on Climate Legislation
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