Nuke Plant Guarantees Out of Energy Bill

[Khephra]

September 9, 2003, 2:26 PM EDT


WASHINGTON -- A plan to help build nuclear power plants with federal loan guarantees has been shelved as part of Congress' energy bill, according to supporters of the program.

Still, lawmakers are continuing to discuss ways to help the nuclear industry develop the next generation of reactors, including expansion of government-sponsored research and tax benefits for such plants, according to people involved in the discussions.

The proposed loan guarantees had been included in legislation the Senate was considering but fell by the wayside when that version was abandoned in favor of one that contained only modest help for the industry.

As House and Senate negotiators work out final energy legislation, Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has said he hopes to restore many proposals to help the nuclear industry that were in his earlier bill.

more...............

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-nuclear-subsidy,0,967432.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[maxanne]

1. I am amazed

that my senator - John Sununu would actually do something right. His father worked tirelessly to ensure that Seabrook Unit I went on line here in NH when he was governor. I'm amazed that John Jr, who never had an original thought in his head is actually taking a stand.

When we had the blackout in the northeast, recently, they had to shut down the nuke plants. Tell me why it is that we want to build more of them, if they can't run when they're needed? Tell me why it is we want to expand on a power source with limited resources? We have finite ammounts of both oil and uranium.

Even the proponents of nuclear power admit there will be a serious accident in the US within the next 10 years. Yep, makes sense to invest in nukes. The heck with renewable energy sources.

[MasonJar]

2. Nuclear power

I just saw Stillwood Monday and it is scary to think that that was a true story. It used to be car accidents; now it is airplanes. Why do we continue to support nuclear power which is so dangerous and has a 10000 year life?