Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Obama Stupid About Nuclear Power

Despite the undeniable susceptibility of nuclear power to catastrophic failure, Obamacon & Folks are still backing nuclear power as a major part of US clean energy policy. The fact that conservative corporatists also back nuclear power should be enough to convince any taxpayer the nuclear industry should not be subsidized with their dollars. The industry is spending big bucks lobbying to insure it continues to receive federal subsidies. If nuclear power is such a great idea, it should be able to make it on its own in the marketplace. The same old, untrue, tired refrain of "it can't happen here" is being repeated by industry apologists. But the truth is, it can happen here. The reactors melting down in Japan are the same criticized Mark 1 BWRs that operate at 23 facilities in the United States. Some of those are located near active fault zones. There is no magic that exempts the United States "under God" from the Earth's seismic activity, despite what Glenn Beck thinks. Congressional Democrats are correct to raise questions about relicensing aging nuclear plants with apparent design flaws. Obama said in a January speech the United States would be "stupid" not to follow Japan's example by relying on nuclear power. Germany has placed a three month moratorium on new nuclear power plants, and is closing seven aged plants instead of renewing their operating life for 12 years. Who is stupid now? {"Vermont Yankee"}