Domenici chased from Energy Bill Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 13:04:06 -0500 (EST) Beyond Nuclear

Beyond Nuclear News Bulletin

“Plutonium Pete” Punts to Appropriations Bill

December 6, 2007
Contact: Linda Gunter, 301.270.2209

Kevin Kamps, 240.462.3216

Domenici’s $50 Billion for Nuclear Power Chased from Energy and Farm Bills

Takoma Park, MD Thanks largely to public pressure, Senator Pete Domenici has been forced to withdraw his unlimited federal loan guarantees for new reactors from the energy bill. This is the second defeat for Domenici after he had previously attempted to slip the massive nuclear subsidy into the farm bill.

Domenici, whose home state of New Mexico hosts two nuclear weapons labs, a nuclear weapons waste dump and is slated to house a new uranium enrichment plant, is eager to hand the nuclear industry an unprecedented $50 billion in federal loan guarantees over the next two years alone. But the provision was chased from the energy bill, which is heading to the House floor for a vote as early as today. Instead, Domenici will now try to insert a similar provision into the energy and water appropriations bill and ask for just the first $25 billion in nuclear loan guarantees for 2008.

“Plutonium Pete has been forced to succumb to concerted pressure from the public and his congressional colleagues,” said Kevin Kamps, the nuclear waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear. "But concerned citizens must continue to watchdog Domenici. He is stubbornly determined to hand the keys to the U.S. Treasury over to the nuclear power industry. This would effectively greenlight new reactors for the first time in more than 30 years by transferring the financial risks onto U.S. taxpayers."

The energy and water appropriations bill will likely be folded into an omnibus appropriations bill, expected to be voted on before Congress recesses for the holidays later this month.

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Beyond Nuclear aims to educate and activate the public about the connections between nuclear power and nuclear weapons and the need to abandon both to safeguard our future. Beyond Nuclear advocates for an energy future that is sustainable, benign and democratic. Beyond Nuclear staff can be reached at: 301.270.2209. Or view our Web site at: www.beyondnuclear.org


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