antinuclear
Running on empty Beyond Nuclear Linda Gunter 26 Sept 08 With the retreat of the “Gang of 20” in the Senate last week – where a bill that would have included unlimited federal loan guarantees for nuclear energy was never introduced
– will the failing economy now spell the end of heavily subsidized nuclear energy expansion plans?
Not necessarily.
Although the push for unlimited loan guarantees has been staved off, the previously approved nuclear loan guarantees lurch forward. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 approved nuclear loan guarantees, and in December 2007, Congress and President Bush approved $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for new reactors (and an additional $2 billion for new uranium enrichment)………………………
DOE admitted this week that $18.5 billion would build just two new reactors. However, DOE seems poised, along with the nuclear power industry’s army of lobbyists, to continue to seek expanded, or even unlimited, nuclear loan guarantees..
For example, Platt’s reported this week that, given the crises on Wall Street, DOE’s assistant secretary for nuclear energy, Dennis Spurgeon, said that “government” (meaning taxpayers) may need to take on an even bigger role in financing the “nuclear renaissance.” ……………………….
Despite what’s being described as a financial “meltdown,” the real risk of meltdown – due to expanded nuclear power in this country propped up by multi-billion dollar taxpayer subsidies – is routinely ignored in the press.
All the more reason to remain vigilant lest the nuclear industry and its friends in government attempt quiet money grabs as part of the Wall Street bailout plans, or hidden in energy or climate bills.
Tags: Althoughthe push for unlimited loan guarantees has been staved off, the previously approved nuclear loan guarantees lurch forward. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 approved nuclear loan guarantees, and in December 2007, Congress and President Bush approved $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for new reactors (and an additional $2 billion for new uranium enrichment)………………………
No comments yet.
Leave a Reply
-
Archives
- May 2012 (185)
- April 2012 (259)
- March 2012 (342)
- February 2012 (304)
- January 2012 (259)
- December 2011 (274)
- November 2011 (331)
- October 2011 (247)
- September 2011 (272)
- August 2011 (249)
- July 2011 (227)
- June 2011 (195)
-
Categories
- 1
- 1 NUCLEAR ISSUES
- business and costs
- climate change
- ENERGY
- environment
- health
- history
- indigenous issues
- Legal
- marketing of nuclear
- media
- opposition to nuclear
- people
- politics
- politics international
- Religion and ethics
- safety and incidents
- secrets,lies and civil liberties
- spinbuster
- technology
- Uranium
- wastes
- weapons and war
- 2 WORLD
- ACTION
- AFRICA
- AUSTRALIA
- Christina background info
- Christina's notes
- Christina's themes
- general
- Reference
- resources – print
- Resources -audiovicual
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS











