Buried in the language of the “Clean Energy Bank” legislation sponsored by Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) is a blank check to the nuclear industry.
This bill includes unlimited availability of taxpayer loan guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors.
Unlimited guaranteed loans. As in, as many as the industry could possibly want, no matter the cost, no matter the default rate. Which for the record, is 50% according to the Congressional Budget Office.
This is one of the most audacious, nasty, pork-laden bill I have heard of in a really long time. How do they even think that they can get away with this?
Write your House member and Speaker Nancy Pelosi now. And then forward this message to everyone you can think of.
For more information on the “clean energy” bank, check out this NIRS post on Daily Kos.
Since our own Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is encouraging lawmakers to give the nuclear industry even more money, it is more important than ever that we make sure folks on the Hill know that Not All Texans support nuclear power. Make your voice heard today!
I have been remiss in my duties as Blog Lady because I haven’t told you anything about the slated Andrews County nuclear waste dump. Oh, you hadn’t heard? TCEQ approved a “low-level” radioactive dump out in the lower panhandle. There wasn’t a contested case hearing — and citizens of Eunice, New Mexico, the closest town to the dump, haven’t been able to officially voice their opposition because they don’t have standing under state law. The dump is also only licensed for 15 years, after which all that toxic waste will be the responsibility of the state. Aaaaand the dump will be accepting waste, not just from Texas, but from all over the United States.
