Should Economic Stimulus Bill Include Billions for Nuclear Power?

The Senate bill includes a proposed $50 billion in federal loan guarantees that would likely go to nuclear power and liquid coal technologies. The amount is just a fraction of what the nuclear power industry is seeking—last year the industry asked Congress for $122 billion in loan guarantees in order to build 21 new nuclear reactors.

No nuclear plant has been built in the United States since the meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979. Critics of the proposal question the safety of nuclear energy and doubt the federal loan guarantees would provide much of an immediate stimulus to the economy. But supporters of nuclear energy say nuclear should be viewed as a clean, safe and emissions-free source of power.

We are joined now by two guests. In the early 1970s both were prominent members of the anti-nuclear movement but today they take opposing views on the future of nuclear energy. Harvey Wasserman is an independent journalist and longtime anti-nuclear activist. In the early 1970s he helped found the grassroots movement against nuclear power in the United States and helped coin the phrase “No Nukes.” He joins us from his home in Ohio via videostream.

Patrick Moore is a co-founder and former leader of Greenpeace. He now serves as co-chair of the pro-nuclear Clean and Safe Energy (CASE) Coalition. He joins us in Boston.

Harvey Wasserman, Independent journalist and longtime anti-nuclear activist. In the early 1970s he helped found the grassroots movement against nuclear power in the United States.

Patrick Moore, co-chair of the pro-nuclear Clean and Safe Energy Coalition. He is founder of the organization Green Spirit. In the 1970s he was one of the founding members of Greenpeace.