[Sustain] Emergency Alert - Call Senate To Stop $50 Billion Nuclear Subsidy - Deadline Today!

[Eric Brooks]

Hi all, see alert below,

If we all call Senators Boxer and Feinstein right now, we might get our 
comments in soon enough.

Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553
Diane Feinstein: (202) 224-3841

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/t/4100/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=993



	


      Safe energy now! No taxpayer loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors!

January 29, 2009

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late on the night of January 27 
snuck in a provision to President Obama's economic stimulus package that 
would allow as much as $50 BILLION of your dollars to be used as loan 
guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors. This would be on 
top of the $18.5 Billion taxpayer dollars already authorized by Congress 
during the Bush administration.

These loan guarantees would mean more nuclear reactors and more 
radioactive waste piling up in communities across our country. They 
would also mean less money for safer, cheaper and cleaner energy 
alternatives like solar and wind power.

The provision is vaguely worded. It would authorize $50 Billion in new 
loan guarantees for "eligible technologies." These technologies include 
nuclear, "clean coal," renewable energy sources and electric 
transmission. But the stimulus package is intended to create new jobs 
and economic activity over the next two years. Not only should new 
nuclear reactors and the false concept of  "clean coal" be excluded from 
taxpayer support, but the reality is that neither technology is ready to 
produce /any/ jobs within the next two years.

The Department of Energy apparently would have to decide how to allocate 
this $50 Billion. If it all went to safe, cost-effective renewable 
energy sources,that would be one thing. Unfortunately, the provision's 
backers, like Sens. Robert Bennett (R-UT) and Thomas Carper (D-DE) are 
clear that their intent is that it would go for new nuclear reactor 
construction. Yet the Congressional Budget Office predicts a 50% default 
rate by nuclear utilities using this program! This is simply a nuclear 
bailout waiting to happen, and we can't afford it.

But it's not too late. You can help stop this nonsense. The full Senate 
will vote on the stimulus package the week of February 2. Please CALL 
your Senators now (Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and tell them to 
stop all loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors. AND, please send an 
e-mail to your Senators with the same message using the form below. 
(note: we encourage you to edit the wording to personalize your e-mail 
and reflect your own concerns).


-- 
"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." -- Che Guevara

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