Global Warming Campaign News

OCALA — In a debate this morning on comprehensive energy legislation, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala) offered an amendment that would undermine America’s opportunity to unleash the power of clean energy to transform our economy and protect our environment, according to Environment Florida.  The amendment to the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) would have allowed power companies to reduce the amount of truly clean renewable energy they would be required to produce by one-fifth nationwide, by giving credit for the power generated by nuclear power plants.   

“Nuclear power is neither renewable nor a clean source of energy,” said Adam Rivera of Environment Florida.  “Investments in nuclear power create far fewer jobs per dollar than investment in renewable energy.  Instead of undermining our transition to a clean energy economy, Rep. Stearns should recognize that now is the time to replace the dirty, polluting energy sources of the past with the clean, homegrown energy sources of today,” said Rivera.

Mining and processing uranium for nuclear power is energy intensive and polluting. Depending on the size and how much time a nuclear reactor is shut down for refueling or for safety problems, each reactor produces approximately 20-30 metric tons per year of highly radioactive waste, which remains hazardous for at least a quarter of a million years.

The nuclear amendment, which was defeated, was offered to the American Clean Energy and Security Act.  This bill sets up a framework for transitioning to clean energy and curbing global warming.  It would reduce U.S. global warming pollution by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 percent by 2050.  In addition, the bill commits the United States to achieve additional emission reductions through agreements to prevent deforestation.  The bill would establish strong minimum targets for commercial and residential building codes of 30 percent energy savings starting in 2010 and 50 percent savings for residential buildings starting in 2014 and for commercial buildings in 2015; these improved building standards would save consumers $25 billion a year by 2030.  The bill would also provide money to state and local governments to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Environment Floirda estimates that opponents to the clean energy economy have hired more than 2,000 lobbyists to stop the bill – nearly four lobbyists for every member of Congress. 

“The nuclear industry, Big Oil, Dirty Coal and the members of Congress who do their bidding, are continuing to work to weaken the bill in ways that will delay the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy and miss the opportunity to make a real transition in the nation’s energy policy.  These are delays that neither the environment nor the economy can afford,” concluded Rivera.

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Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. For more information, please visit www.environmentflorida.org.