CONTACT: U.S. PIRG
Anna Aurilio & Emily Figdor
(202) 546-9707

Nuclear Power Not Needed to Reduce Global Warming Emissions

WASHINGTON -- May 25 -- With the nuclear industry running an aggressive public relations campaign to promote itself as the solution to global warming, a report released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) demonstrates that the goals of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act can be met while slashing America's reliance on nuclear energy in half.

"Nuclear power is not a solution to global warming. We can meet our energy needs, tackle global warming, and save consumers billions of dollars by taking advantage of America's vast supplies of renewable energy and energy efficiency," said U.S. PIRG Legislative Director Anna Aurilio.

The report, "A Responsible Electricity Future: An Efficient, Cleaner and Balanced Scenario for the U.S. Electricity System," conducted for PIRG by Synapse Energy Economics, shows the potential for a clean and secure energy future that relies on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, and solar instead of polluting fossil fuels and nuclear power. Under this "balanced case," the U.S. could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electricity sector by 16 percent by 2010 compared to business-as-usual, while holding nuclear power generation steady and saving $3 billion annually.

Shifting investments to energy efficiency and renewable energy would pay off even more in the long run, according to the report. By 2025, the U.S. would reduce its CO2 emissions from power plants by 47 percent, reduce nuclear power generation by nearly half, and save $36 billion annually compared to business-as-usual.

The Climate Stewardship Act would reduce CO2 emissions from the electricity sector by 12 percent in 2010 compared to business-as-usual, according to the Energy Information Administration. The bill does not require deeper cuts after 2010.

"Nuclear power is the most dangerous and expensive of all energy sources. We shouldn't give even more hard-earned taxpayer dollars to the nuclear industry," said Aurilio.

Aurilio noted that none of the nuclear power industry's financial, security, safety, waste, or proliferation problems has been solved. For instance:

The nuclear industry has received at least $70 billion in direct federal subsidies in the last 50 years and still cannot finance a new plant on its own.

While the 9/11 Commission concluded that al Qaeda considered attacking nuclear plants, nuclear reactors and irradiated fuel pools still remain vulnerable to a terrorist attack.

Nuclear waste remains a serious problem without a safe solution.

"There is no need to jeopardize our health, safety, and economy with increased nuclear power when we have cleaner, cheaper solutions to reduce global warming pollution," concluded Aurilio.

U.S. PIRG is the national advocacy office for the state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0525-03.htm