Remove Nuclear Loans from Stmulus Bill-Call Senators

[Guest guest]

_Nuclear Information and Resource Service_

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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.

Please CALL your Senators today (202-224-3121) _AND send them an e-mail by

clicking here_

(http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2 & c=iId/GCrGRVxdPojpnDWqizErf\

1BaXE1j) .

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 by clicking here. _

(http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2 & c=QDUFjQF0au+qvlqMcMK0qeJrk\

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Senate _www.senate.gov_ (http://www.senate.gov) for your senators direct

phone number.

We expect a lot more activity on these issues over the next few days and

weeks, and we will keep you alerted to new developments. And NIRS,

Physicians for Social Responsibility and other groups are calling for a

National

Lobby Day on nuclear power for February 27, 2009, which falls right between

the Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free conference and the huge Power Shift

conference. If you are coming to Washington for either of those and are willing

to

meet with your Congressmembers, let us know--we can set up meetings for you

and assist in other ways too. We'll be sending more information on the

National Lobby Day soon.

Thanks for all you do,

Michael Mariotte

Executive Director

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

_nirsnet_ (nirsnet)

_www.nirs.org_

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----------------------------

Finally, please help us continue and expand this type of outreach and

activity. We know it works! Please make a small, tax-deductible donation to

NIRS and support our work for a nuclear-free, carbon-free energy future. _You

can do so here._

(http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2 & c=GftBcPN/Mo3OhjjqRODKzOJrk\

c7bmtBD) Just imagine: if each of you receiving

this e-mail donated just the equivalent of a cup or so of coffee a month--just

$5--we could hire 2 new people and expand our outreach budget by 50%!

That's the kind of huge difference your contributions can make!

 

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