Why The Nuclear Industry Is Pushing Carbon Trading, Why We Should Be Leery of It.

Green Nuclear Butterfly Has a Better Idea, and It Is NOT NUCLEAR.

A big issue for debate lately has been the issue of carbon trading, or at least a carbon-pricing framework in the name of reducing Global Warming. It is no accident that the Nuclear Industry is one of the largest proponents of this program, and for their own good reason. Without carbon trading, or at least a carbon penalty placed on other energy sectors (primary among them coal, oil and gas) the nuclear industry simply cannot compete in the market place, their hoped for Nuclear Renaissance dwindling away to maybe 10 new reactor builds here in America.

Some might say such a claim is heresy, state that carbon trading would be good for the environment. That may, or may not be true...what is true, and this according to the Chief Executive of GE, Jeffrey Immelt, is that nuclear CANNOT COMPETE without strong financial incentives (loan guarantees). He goes further to state, that large-scale nuclear construction would go ahead only if a high enough cost was placed on carbon-dioxide emissions.

One of the supposed SELLING POINTS of nuclear, is CHEAP ENERGY. Carbon Trading or carbon penalties will do nothing but put more profit in rich corporate hands, and drive up the average American family's monthly electric bills. That you can bank on. So, when NEI and your local nuclear power company such as Entergy, Exelon, or First Energy (just to name a few) tries to sell you on the wonders of nuclear energy, you had best listen to them with your hand on your wallet.

Going further, it is the hope of George Bush, and the nuclear industry to put us into a very precarious position where we have no choice but to travel their nuclear highway. Samuel Bodman, US energy secretary while in Rome told the World Energy Congress (speaking about just America), "We don’t need 30 of these additional units, we need 130 or 230. We are going to need a substantial increase in nuclear power if we are to deal with generating electricity on the one hand and protecting the environment on the other.” This would double the current number of reactors we now have in America, triple that number if his suggested 230 reactors is added to the 104 currently in operation. This raises two significant questions:

1. Are you prepared to have a nuclear reactor sitting in your own back yard? It is easy to embrace nuclear when your community is not being asked to make the sacrifices, your community is not the one faced with elevated cancer risks. What happens when it is your community? Do your views change?

2. In nuclears first fifty years, not one ounce of high level nuclear waste has been safely disposed of, we still do not have a viable disposal means for the waste from nuclear reactors. Are we as a nation really comfortable doubling or tripling the number of reactors in America before the DOE and the nuclear industry have a PROVEN means with which to deal with these deadly waste streams?

Just for the sake of alternatives, since the nuclear industry always claims the anti-nuclear forces never offer up other options. What if we made converting the houses in our communities to renewable energy public works projects, much like sidewalks and sewers. The town appraiser comes to your home, prices out what it will cost to put your solar systems and things on your home, and does the same for every other house in the town. Much like paying for say new sidewalks, you would pay for making your home a shining green example through increased property taxes over a period of say 15-20 years. There is a very good likelihood that your savings on your monthly ELECTRIC bill would offset the increase in your yearly property taxes. Can you imagine a town like Peekskill converting every home over to renewable energy?

Looking at my own electric bill, we would be looking at say a $200 a month savings per home on average. Times lets say 4,000 homes in the area. Do the math, and that is $800,000 a month. The big electric utilities would be HOWLING. In an earlier article, it was pointed out that some 2.5 million homes could be converted to renewable energy for the $50 Billion the nuclear industry wants in just the next two years in the form of Loan Guarantees. Again, at $200 a month per home for electric usage, we are suddenly talking $500 MILLION per month, or $6 BILLION a year that would not be going to companies like Entergy, Exelon, and First Energy. In less than nine years, citizens could REPAY that $50 Billion in loan guarantees, all the while, taking care of most of their own home energy needs themselves.

Now, there is another HUGE ADVANTAGE to this plan. It would free up that proverbial BASE LOAD that nuclear utility companies are always waving in our faces. How much BASE LOAD could be freed up if suddenly 2.5 million homes were put on self generated renewable energy? More importantly, with that kind of CASH INFLUX into the renewable energy industry, how much more affordable would the equipment be? With volume production comes price drops as renewable energy finally becomes available to the masses. Imagine using this same basic premise to put energy efficient appliances in every American Home, or too properly insulate older homes, or put in energy saving windows. The energy SAVINGS would be tremendous, and we could jump start a stalled construction sector in the process.

Just something to think about. Call me crazy, but how much environmental healing would be done with this idea? How much could we reduce the effects of Global Warming with such thinking? Living Green requires we explore new ways of living our lives, and new ways of conducting our business. and perhaps it is time to start, by rethinking how we get our energy to run our homes?

Some FACTS That Entergy and The Nuclear Industry Don't Want You To Know

Could this be Ossining, Briarcliff, or Peekskill after an INCIDENT at the Indian Point Plant?

Nuclear Power is a Health, Safety, and Environmental Threat: Cancers, Birth Defects...call them the daughters of the decay chain of radioactive isotopes.

1. In testimony before Congress on April 17, 1985, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission testified that the probability of a substantial nuclear accident in this country over the next 20 years involving large releases of radioactive materials was roughly 45%. Well, there was Chernobyl...could Indian Point be the bullet we fail to dodge? Maybe Vermont Yankee?

2. In February, 1997, a reactor operator error at ComEd's Zion nuclear reactor prompted the Regional head of the NRC to state, "It doesn't get any worse than this." Well, not quite true...seems there is a reactor that came close to having a hole clear through it, but I'll save that story for another post.

3. In March of 1997, in a test that NRC said "requires thinking," 25 of 31 reactor operators at ComEd's La Salle reactors flunked a test of their ability to handle "abnormal" reactor problems.

This is not unusual...many of us that have been following the saga that is Indian Point are familiar with this kind of dismal testing failure on the part of reactor employees.

4. As of April, 1997, Commonwealth Edison has been fined $6.2 million for 85 safety-related incidents at its nuclear power plants. Don't suppose Energy would be willing to openly and honestly tell us how much they have paid out in fines at their 10 reactors?

6. Illinois Power has been fined $502,000 for seven major violations at its single nuclear reactor.

Did you hear the one about the Entergy Reactor Control Room operator asleep at the button?...how much was that fine? $60,000? How much was the fine was shipping a contaminated part off to Barnwell improperly shielded?

7. According to a study done by Sandia National Laboratories, a severe (but not necessarily "worst-case") nuclear power accident in Illinois would result in deaths in the tens-of-thousands, casualties and latent cancers in the hundreds-of-thousands, and property loss in the tens-to hundreds-of-billions of dollars. Not to worry folks...Thanks to your United States Congress, and George W. Bush, the Price Waterhouse Act limits the liability of the reactor owner to NINE BILLION!

Nuclear Power is NOT Economical:

1. Since its beginning, nuclear power has cost this country over $492,000,000,000 (THAT IS BILLIONS FOLKS)--nearly twice the cost of the Viet Nam War and the Apollo Moon Missions combined. It even makes the Iraq War, and Bush's failed policies there seem like a bargain.

2. In return for this investment, we have an energy source that, until the mid-1980's, gave us less energy in this country than did the burning of firewood! Not to mentions the MILLIONS of tons of CO2 pumped into the environment to make the fuel rods! Oh, but wait a minute, the DOE, NRC and the Nuclear Industry don't want you to know about that...ruins their GREEN IMAGE.

3. In the U.S., nuclear power contributes only 20-22% of our electricity, and only 8-10% of our total energy consumption. At it's peak in December of 1999, the nuclear industry accounted for 23 percent of the energy on the grid...however, as the aging fleet of reactors begin breaking down, contaminating our environment, and having problems, the percentages have been dropping, even when Entergy is pushing their ten reactors to the breaking point. In April of 2006 for instance, the percentage was down to 19.5...this figure will continue to decrease as some of the decrepit reactors are denied relicensing...Further, Nuclear Reactors are not the GREAT SAVIOR NuStart would have us believe...ten-fifteen years it will take to start getting new reactors online, and they would not be able to provide the quick help the world needs to REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING...did I mention the waste streams?

4. Since 1950, nuclear power has received over $97,000,000,000 in direct and indirect subsidies from the federal government, such as deferred taxes, artificially low limits on liability in case of nuclear accidents, and fuel fabrication write-offs. No other industry has enjoyed such privilege.

5. Many costs for nuclear power have been deliberately underestimated by government and industry such as costs for the permanent disposal of nuclear wastes, the "decommissioning" (shutting-down and cleaning-up) of retired nuclear power plants, and nuclear accident consequences.

To Defeat Your Enemy, Become Your Enemy... How Nuclear Industry is Trying To Steal GREEN MOVEMENT

Nuclear Plants...A Modern Day Holocaust Waiting To Happen... Could Your Community Be One of The Chosen Ones?

The 100 plus Nuclear Reactors in America are all old, aging, even decaying relics from a failed and dying industry, and Corporate Nuclear Energy Titans intend to change that by seeing the Nuclear Age here in America experience a renaissance. To accomplish this miracle though, they need the world's largest propaganda campaign to sell a dubious and skeptical public, especially in those communities they have targeted as the NEW HOSTS of these planned New Age Reactors...too do this, they have devised one of the most sinister plots since Hitler's Third Reich...they want to STEAL THE GREEN MOVEMENT and make it their own, all the while getting citizens to pay for it through MASSIVE subsidies compliments of our government and elected officials.

This effort to STEAL GREEN is being orchestrated by Entergy and a small group known as the Atlanta 7, or more formally by their coalition's less than original name of NuStart. Entergy who owns and operates 10 reactors wants more but decided they needed, before pushing for new reactors, to first lobby (K Street-Tom DeLay) for subsidies by tying Nuclear to the fledgling Hydrogen Economy! Though this blogger has not been able to figure out the list of lobbyists (hired guns) working for this vile and repugnant group of villains, we have learned they are being VERY SUCCESSFUL, as NuStart was successful in getting our elected officials to cough up HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS of OUR MONEY to support their research and cause. This fact is very alarming, as Entergy's original BLUE PRINT for this cloak and dagger rape of a nation was to EXTRACT FEDERAL DOLLARS to pay for their research and to RECRUIT the government in their campaign of deceit in selling host communities on the new plants economic benefits, while dismissing as minor any risks associated with these fatally flawed facilities, as Chernobyl has shown us. With reactors, contrary to this new effort to change the perceptions, we are playing Russian Roulette, with it not being a question of if, but rather when.

Entergy and NuStart are treading very carefully at the moment, knowing stealth is on their side. They have already successfully fleeced our pockets to the tune of over $200 MILLION dollars, with hopes of getting the 110th Congress to cough up EVEN MORE. They have recruited a power house Public Relations firm, and have been bringing on board some serious shills who are more than willing to sell their souls for the Gold Crowns King. Entergy is more than willing to toss about in exchange for absolute and complete loyalty to the cause...MAKE NUCLEAR GREEN. The co-founder of Greenpeace has co-oped his soul with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to create NUKE FRIENDLY juggernaut, "CASEnergy ", who has the website address by the way of http://www.cleansafeenergy.org as they work with the nuclear industry FOR A PRICE. If you visit this frightening site, you can see the roadmap to stealing the Green Movement right before your eyes. Pay close attention to their BUZZ words in the below quotes from their site's section about their coalition:

The Clean and Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy Coalition) is an important voice in the public dialogue over current and future energy needs, particularly in addressing how nuclear power can contribute to America’s energy security and economic growth.

The CASEnergy Coalition is a large grassroots coalition that united unlikely allies across the business, environmental, academic, consumer and labor community to support nuclear energy. We believe that nuclear energy can improve energy security, ensure clean air quality, and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of all Americans. Through news conferences, media events, grassroots advocacy and issues education, the CASEnergy Coalition ensures that everyone from consumers to policymakers have the necessary tools to make sure they can make an informed decisions about nuclear energy.

Or this statement found on their Mission Statement Page:

MissionThe Clean and Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy Coalition) supports the increased use of nuclear energy to ensure an environmentally clean, safe, affordable and reliable supply of electricity. Nuclear power enhances America's energy security and economic growth, helps attain cleaner air and improves the quality of life, health and economic well-being for all Americans.

To complete their stable of Nationally Known Nuclear Rubberstampers, enter America's Mayor Rudi Giuliani and his newly formed CASH COW MONEY MACHINE, Giuliani Partners LLC. Give NuStart credit for their devious plan, as it could actually work if the green grassroots does not wake up to this incidious infiltration of our ranks. Entergy's willing partners, and the minions within the Pro Nuke Movement have a plan, and it is being implemented, their goal to see Anti Nuke's individuals, organizations and coalitions replaced with a Nuclear friendly surrogate, a new Earth Mother group of pretenders lead by Christine Whitman and her CASEnergy demon spawns as the slogan, "No Nukes" is replaced with "No CO2". In short, these folks want to convince us that the slight risks associated with a MELTDOWN, and Nuclear Weapons proliferation are minor inconveniences of Atomic Energy, and well worth their costs when compared to the catastrophic effects of Global Warming. Be Green, Go Nuclear is their chant of the day.

For those thinking this is all pie in sky rhetoric from an Anti Nuke Nut case, consider this...the folks at NuStart have already SETTLED on six potential HOST COMMUNITIES they intend to TARGET.

1. Port Gibson, Mississippi
2. St. Francisville, Louisiana
3. Lusby, Maryland
4. Scriba, New York
5. Aiken, South Carolina
6. Northeast Alabama

Its plan...push forward applications for AT LEAST TWO of these six sites, and make it easier for other utilities to FOLLOW SUIT in pushing through new licensing efforts for reactors. The plan is working, as both consortium and non-consortium members alike have begun the process of invading America's countryside with a whole new ARMY of nuclear reactors. Among some of those who have started the permitting process are Entergy at Grand Gulf, Exelon Generation in Clinton, Illinois. Also in process we have Dominion Nuclear -- which is not a member of NuStart -- at its North Anna plant in Virginia. Thinking of jumping into the fray is Duke Energy of Charlotte, North Carolina. Each of these sites conveniently would use the reactor designs paid for with OUR TAX DOLLARS, but owned by the NuStart Consortium of PLANET RAPERS. (whoops...too harsh? Should I tone that statement down so as not to offend Entergy officials?) Though NuStart has already reached DEEP INTO OUR POCKETS for over $200 MILLION in Federal Government incentives, the reader should know, that all these players have stated for the record, that they need CONGRESS to continue subsidizing their costs of construction if these PROPOSED REACTORS are going to become reality.

To destroy your enemy, you have to know your enemy, and the GREEN MOVEMENT had best wake up, as we are under the microscope, and about to be dissected and destroyed by the Nuclear Industry as they strip off our skin and make it their own.