Obama Team Is Oddly Quiet About Evidence That Renewable Energy Beats Nuclear in Job Creation | Environment | AlterNet

http://www.alternet.org/environment/150546/obama_team_is_oddly_quiet_about_evidence_that_renewable_energy_beats_nuclear_in_job_creation

He added, "Other countries recognize this and are pouring far more proportional amounts of money into supporting the development of renewable sectors."

"In 2010, an investigation by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at the American University School of Communication revealed that, between 1999-2009, the nuclear power industry spent $645 million on federal lobbying -- more than $1 million a week.

Kevin Kamp of Beyond Nuclear also noted that contrary to how Sen. Bingaman, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Energy and Resources Committee, is portrayed by his spokeswoman McCartin, he's also known as the "senator from Los Alamos."

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bingaman's top donor over his career has been the Los Alamos National Laboratory, birthplace of the atomic bomb. The Illinois-based Exelon Corporation, the nation's largest owner and operator of nuclear power plants, is another of Bingaman's major contributors and a prominent campaign contributor to President Obama."

"In a statement released to AlterNet, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said, "American energy policy should focus on supporting the job-creating workhorses like renewable energy, rather than those continually in need of gift horses, like the nuclear industry."

Markey added, "Unfortunately, House Republicans are including $18.5 billion for loan guarantees for nuclear power in their spending bill, H.R.1, while repealing every last cent of loan guarantees for wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and a smart grid."

Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, did not respond to a request for comment for this article."

Renewables Also Much Safer for Taxpayers

In addition to renewable energy's ability to produce far more jobs, the nuclear industry's rate of default on government loans is over 50 percent, according to the Government Accountability Office.

"Pollin, who as a consultant to the Obama administration, says he's certainly not "anti-Obama," said he's frustrated that the president still supports such massive funding of nuclear energy when renewable energy "is obviously the new energy source for the future."

He added, "Other countries recognize this and are pouring far more proportional amounts of money into supporting the development of renewable sectors.""Full Article Here


Senator Bingaman's Facebook page.....
additional FB page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Senator-Bingaman/110120169008545?sk=info#!/pages/Chairman-of-Committee-Outreach/142972095743529