$544 Billion for Inexpensive Nuclear Power

Just when you think they can't stuff the nuclear turkey with any more subsidies. The now late, and not so great, Lieberman-Warner climate bill had some juicy nuclear bits that was part of the reason for its demise (and that in more than one way). It's getting so that if Lieberman is for it, you gotta wonder what's wrong with it.

We also get a little insight on how the "open minded and reasonable" McCain might operate if he gets his hands on the national controls. As Pat Buchanan said in a different context, "McCain will make Cheney look like Gandhi.".

Half-Trillion Dollars for Nukes! - CommonDreams.org - 29 May 08

"With Wall Street unwilling to finance new nuclear plants, U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and John Warner of Virginia have cooked up a scheme to provide $544 billion –­ yes, with a 'b' — in subsidies for new nuclear power plant development." "A Lieberman aide describes the plan as 'the most historic incentive for nuclear in the history of the United States.'"

"Sneakily, the $544 billion for nuclear power is not specifically listed in the Lieberman-Warner measure. It is 'covert' legislative sleight-of-hand, says Blackwelder, with the nuclear subsidy contained in a 'vaguely-entitled category for zero and low carbon energy technologies.'"

Environmental and Public Interest Groups Condemn Plans to Hand Record-Breaking Subsidies to Nuclear Energy (Press Release) - CommonDreams.org - 15 May 08

"According to an analysis conducted by Friends of the Earth, the bill contains close to half a trillion dollars that can be accessed by the nuclear energy industry under a vaguely entitled category for 'zero and low carbon energy technologies.' Nuclear is the only energy industry that could fall under this category that does not have a specific carve elsewhere; funding for renewable energy is identified separately in the bill."

McCain's Nuclear Waste - Mother Jones - 04 Mar 08

"About a year after their bill was defeated, McCain and Lieberman began drafting a new version. It was close to the original, but with one significant addition: billions of dollars in tax subsidies for the nuclear energy industry."

"In one meeting, lobbyists for environmental groups attempted to persuade McCain not to attach nuclear subsidies to the legislation, arguing that doing so would weaken support for the bill. 'He shook his finger at us and scolded us,' says one participant at the meeting, who recalls McCain saying, 'You're wrong and I'm right.' Wicke, now the director of policy for the Piedmont Environmental Council, notes that McCain had already made up his mind and that the session was 'testy.'"

$544 Billion for Inexpensive Nuclear Power

Just when you think they can't stuff the nuclear turkey with any more subsidies. The now late, and not so great, Lieberman-Warner climate bill had some juicy nuclear bits that was part of the reason for its demise (and that in more than one way). It's getting so that if Lieberman is for it, you gotta wonder what's wrong with it.

We also get a little insight on how the "open minded and reasonable" McCain might operate if he gets his hands on the national controls. As Pat Buchanan said in a different context, "McCain will make Cheney look like Gandhi.".

Half-Trillion Dollars for Nukes! - CommonDreams.org - 29 May 08

"With Wall Street unwilling to finance new nuclear plants, U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and John Warner of Virginia have cooked up a scheme to provide $544 billion –­ yes, with a 'b' — in subsidies for new nuclear power plant development." "A Lieberman aide describes the plan as 'the most historic incentive for nuclear in the history of the United States.'"

"Sneakily, the $544 billion for nuclear power is not specifically listed in the Lieberman-Warner measure. It is 'covert' legislative sleight-of-hand, says Blackwelder, with the nuclear subsidy contained in a 'vaguely-entitled category for zero and low carbon energy technologies.'"

Environmental and Public Interest Groups Condemn Plans to Hand Record-Breaking Subsidies to Nuclear Energy (Press Release) - CommonDreams.org - 15 May 08

"According to an analysis conducted by Friends of the Earth, the bill contains close to half a trillion dollars that can be accessed by the nuclear energy industry under a vaguely entitled category for 'zero and low carbon energy technologies.' Nuclear is the only energy industry that could fall under this category that does not have a specific carve elsewhere; funding for renewable energy is identified separately in the bill."

McCain's Nuclear Waste - Mother Jones - 04 Mar 08

"About a year after their bill was defeated, McCain and Lieberman began drafting a new version. It was close to the original, but with one significant addition: billions of dollars in tax subsidies for the nuclear energy industry."

"In one meeting, lobbyists for environmental groups attempted to persuade McCain not to attach nuclear subsidies to the legislation, arguing that doing so would weaken support for the bill. 'He shook his finger at us and scolded us,' says one participant at the meeting, who recalls McCain saying, 'You're wrong and I'm right.' Wicke, now the director of policy for the Piedmont Environmental Council, notes that McCain had already made up his mind and that the session was 'testy.'"