[Sustain] Stop $1 TRILLION in nuclear loans--yep, a trillion!

[Eric Brooks]

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6930 Carroll Avenue, #340, Takoma Park, MD 20912; 301-270-6477; 
nirsnet at nirs.org <mailto:nirsnet at nirs.org>; www.nirs.org 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IF1LZfSDcVdqol1MdFK0jtyGt5C3m0di>


*Tell your Senators: Don't Cosponsor Alexander-Webb Trillion Dollar 
Nuclear Bailout Bill!*



March 17, 2010

Dear Friends,

Last fall, Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.) 
introduced S. 2276, the "Clean Energy Act of 2009." But this bill is the 
opposite of a "clean energy act"! In fact, its primary intent is to 
encourage the construction of at least 100 new reactors in the U.S. by 
2030, encourage reprocessing of radioactive waste, promote additional 
"small, modular" reactors, and build a new nuclear power infrastructure. 
Alexander and Webb claim they'll do all this with less than $20 billion 
over the next 10 years.

Sure. And pigs fly, fish ride bikes, and nuclear power is safe and 
clean. Their proposal would expand the federal "loan guarantee" program 
not by a "mere" $50 or $100 billion, but by putting taxpayers on the 
hook for as much as a $1 TRILLION giveaway to wealthy nuclear power 
interests. *Yep, you read that right: as much as a _trillion taxpayer 
dollars_ for new nuclear reactors.* Here is more background on the bill 
from Physicians for Social Responsibility. 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=F90H2MdaxXu%2BO7AUgv7nUdyGt5C3m0di>

As you know from our previous Alerts; these aren't just loan 
"guarantees," they are actual taxpayer loans from the obscure Federal 
Financing Bank. Why should taxpayers be subsidizing the likes of General 
Electric, Electricite de France, Westinghouse and Areva?

So far, there has been no movement on the Alexander-Webb bill. But 
suddenly this week, they are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter to 
other Senators seeking new co-sponsors for the bill. That is typically a 
first step in trying to move a bill.

*Please write your Senators here and ask them not to co-sponsor this 
bill.* 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=BAPvSHfnxU%2FxRamXpRA6LtyGt5C3m0di> 
At the same time, remind them that there must be no taxpayer subsidies 
for nuclear power in any upcoming climate bill as well.

The nuclear industry already has received--with just one loan for 
Georgia's Vogtle reactors--65% of all the loan guarantee money granted 
by the Department of Energy. Here is an analysis of grants given so far. 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=BWLHBox8RgIe49YMrIed4dyGt5C3m0di> 
A trillion-dollar nuclear loan program would force our nation on a 
nuclear path, and forever end the promise of clean, safe, renewable 
energy. We can't let it happen.

Please help spread the word. Send the link to our action page to your 
family, friends, colleagues and organizational e-mail lists: 
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5502/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2366  
This bill may be absurd, but it is also dangerous, and it's important 
that the Senate hear a clear message against it from the American public.

In other news, in just two weeks we've passed the halfway point to our 
10,000 signature goal for our petition to Congress to stop President 
Obama's proposed $54 billion nuclear loan program! If you haven't yet 
signed the petition, please do so here 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ifMXGDmVoqUUWN3cqnsE1dyGt5C3m0di>. 
And please help us spread the word about the petition as well. We need 
to stop ALL taxpayer loans to the nuclear power industry.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to NIRS this month and helped 
us buy another ad on Alternet to reach out and encourage signatures. An 
ad is running this week and is bringing in hundreds of new signatures 
every day. If you haven't contributed yet and can help with a few 
dollars (or many dollars!) to expand our outreach for this campaign, 
we'd be eternally grateful. You can contribute on our secure servers 
here 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=SkVERzGLoElLOesIa8PVn9yGt5C3m0di>.

Thanks for all you do,

Michael Mariotte

Executive Director

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

nirsnet at nirs.org <mailto:nirsnet at nirs.org>

www.nirs.org 
<http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=M4nY2u7hbVO2nytt1wJsgtyGt5C3m0di>

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