Round 2 of Nuclear Loan Guarantee Battle About to Begin. Let's Stop Them Entirely This Time!
As you know, in December Congress voted to authorize $18.5 Billion in taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for the construction of new atomic reactors (along with $2 billion for a uranium enrichment plan, $8 billion for various coal technologies and $10 billion for renewables and efficiency projects). The Congressional authorization is only good through Fiscal Year 2009.
It has become clear that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot give out any loan guarantees by the end of FY 2009, so DOE is now pushing to extend its authority to issue loan guarantees through FY 2011—or well into the next administration.
In order for this to happen the Appropriations Committees of both the Senate and House will need to vote on the issue later this year. The Appropriation subcommittees on Energy and Water in both houses are already discussing this issue.
This year, we need to start early and stop this program entirely. It was only with your help and action that most members of Congress even knew there was a DOE loan guarantee program! And your actions prevented the industry from receiving the $50 Billion in guarantees it wanted. Now that the program has received substantial attention, we need to keep the pressure on and end it entirely.
Tell the members of the Energy and Water subcommittees that you do not support nuclear power as a solution to global warming!
Take action today. If your Senator or Representative is on the attached list, please call him/her now and demand that the authorization period for nuclear loan guarantees not be extended. These are the critical subcommittee members who will make the first decisions. And if your Senator or Representative isn't on the list below, call your own officials anyway. The bigger stir we can make, the more likely we will win.
Talking Points:
It has become clear over the past year that most Congressmembers do not understand the nuclear power issue, and too often simply believes what the nuclear industry tells them. We need to conduct basic education of Congress. While NIRS will be helping set up briefings on various issues for them over the next several months, it is vital that Congressmembers hear from their constituents as well.
When calling your Congressional offices, ask for the legislative staffer for energy issues. Then try some of these talking points to explain your opposition to taxpayer loan guarantees.
* The climate crisis requires that we use the fastest, cheapest, safest, cleanest methods of generating electricity possible. Nuclear power fails in comparison to renewables and energy efficiency on all these criteria.
* We can achieve a carbon-free, nuclear-free energy future, which will benefit everyone, but we need to start moving in that direction now. You can refer staffers to www.ieer.org for more information about how we can attain that necessary future.
* Nuclear power is already the most subsidized form of electricity generation; the wealthy nuclear industry doesn't deserve more subsidies.
* Environmentalists and consumers/ratepayers do not support nuclear power. You can refer your Congressmembers to the statement on the front page of NIRS website (www.nirs.org) signed so far by 425 U.S. organizations and more than 150 international organizations.
General Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Contact Info for Energy and Water subcommittee members:
House of Representatives
Democratic Subcommittee Members:
Chair:
Peter J. Visclosky (IN)
Phone: (202) 225-2461
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Chet Edwards (TX)
Phone: (202) 225-6105
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Ed Pastor (AZ)
Phone: (202) 225-4065
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Marion Berry (AR)
Phone: (202) 225-4076
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Chaka Fattah (PA)
Phone: (202) 225-4001
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Steve Israel (NY)
Phone: (202) 225-3335
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Tim Ryan (OH)
Phone: (202) 225-5261
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José E. Serrano (NY)
Phone: (202) 225-4361
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John W. Olver (MA)
Phone: (202) 225-5335
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Dave Obey (WI), Ex Officio
Phone: (202) 225-3365
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Republican Subcommittee Members:
Ranking Member:
David L. Hobson (OH)
Phone: (202) 225-4324
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Zach Wamp (TN)
Phone: (202) 225-3271
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Jo Ann Emerson (MO)
Phone: (202) 225-4404
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Michael K. Simpson (ID)
Phone: (202) 225-5531
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Dennis R. Rehberg (MT)
Phone: (202) 225-3211
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Ken Calvert (CA)
Phone: (202) 225-1986
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Jerry Lewis (CA), Ex Officio
Phone: (202) 225-5861
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Senate
Democratic Subcommittee Members:
Chair:
Byron Dorgan (ND)
Phone: (202) 224-2551
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Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Phone: (202) 224-3954
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Patty Murray (WA)
Phone: (202) 224-2621
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Dianne Feinstein (CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
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Tim Johnson (SD)
Phone: (202) 224-5842
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Mary Landrieu (LA)
Phone: (202) 224-5824
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Daniel Inouye (HA)
Phone: (202) 224-3934
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Jack Reed (RI)
Phone: (202) 224-4642
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Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Phone: (202) 224-3224
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Republican Subcommittee Members:
Ranking Member:
Pete Domenici (NM)
Phone: (202) 224-6621
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Thad Cochran (MS)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
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Mitch McConnell (KY)
Phone: (202) 224-2541
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Robert Bennett (UT)
Phone: (202) 224-5444
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Larry Craig (ID)
Phone: (202) 224-2752
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Christopher Bond (MO)
Phone: (202) 224-5721
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Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Phone: (202) 224-5922
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Wayne Allard (CO)
Phone: (202) 224-5941
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Thanks for all you do!
Michael Mariotte, nirsnet@nirs.org
Aja Binette, ajab@nirs.org
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
www.nirs.org
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