Clean Energy Insight - Moving Energy Forward

[Approx. Read Time: 1 minute]  A recent Bi-Partisan letter to the President provides frame work for nuclear power growth and environmental change.  The following is the section of the letter that focuses on nuclear power.

“Encouraging nuclear power. Additional nuclear power is an essential component of our
strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We strongly support incentives for renewable
energy sources such as wind and solar, but successful legislation must also recognize the
important role for clean nuclear power in our low-emissions future. America has lost its nuclear
technology manufacturing base, and we must rebuild it in order to compete in the global
marketplace. Our legislation will encourage the construction of new nuclear power plants and
provide funding to train the next generation of nuclear workers. We will make it easier to finance
the construction of new nuclear power plants and improve the efficiency of the licensing process
for traditional as well as small modular reactors, while fully respecting safety and environmental
concerns. In addition, we support the research and development of new, safe ways to minimize
nuclear waste. We are working with our colleagues to create incentives for low-carbon power
sources, including nuclear, that will complement the Energy and Natural Resource Committee’s
work to incentivize renewable electricity.”

To read the full letter Click Here

[Approx. Read Time: 2 minutes]  A recent article written by Keith Bradsher, states “China, which by most estimates overtook the United States in 2006 to become the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is seeking sharp improvements in the energy efficiency of its economy.”

China is taking action to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit by building new nuclear reactors – as many as 10 a year – to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.

China’s economy has grown significantly in the last 10 years, and is continuing to grow significantly. They are investing in numerous energy sources to help create and sustain their economies; building nuclear power plants is one energy source that will help their economy, and as a result, China is reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Please reread the first four words of the second paragraph “China is taking action”. I applaud the Chinese for taking initiative in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases they emit, without waiting for an agreement from Copenhagen. Unlike the United States, who is waiting for an arbitrary panel of individuals in Copenhagen to determine what nations “should do”, China is already taking action.

We (United States) have politicians, environmental activists, scientists, etc., all making a case for why or why not we should invest in nuclear power as an energy source. While the Chinese are taking action, the United States is once again arguing over who is right and who is wrong, delaying the process of investing in new nuclear reactors to meet our energy needs and sustain our economy.

This country and our politicians think like a teenage girl who has a crush on a teenage boy. But what if I do this, And this will happen or If I do that. We need politicians who will get over their Ifs, Ands, and Buts hang-ups and make decisions about how we will sustain our economy while still providing enough energy for Americans to live comfortably. We at CEI are in the process of coordinating a Letter Writing Campaign to mobilize the politicians of this country to ACT. Stay posted.