web banner 6930 Carroll Avenue, #340, Takoma Park, MD 20912; 301-270-6477; nirsnet@nirs.org <mailto:nirsnet@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=236... 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@nirs.org <mailto:nirsnet@nirs.org> www.nirs.org <http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=M4nY2u7hbVO2nytt1wJsgtyGt5C3m0di> Click here to unsubscribe from NIRS e-mail list <http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=3SBVIP%2FEcOPLd6hCkURKrtyGt5C3m0di>