U.S. Senate Says No to "Clean Coal" & Nuclear in RPS

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48960

National Renewable Energy Portfolio (RPS) legislation introduced by Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), which included clean coal technology and nuclear power alongside traditional sources of renewable energy, was voted down in the U.S. Senate this afternoon 56-29.

Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced an amendment yesterday to establish a National Clean Portfolio Standard (CPS) as an alternative to a proposal introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Bingaman's amendment calls for a National Renewable Portfolio (RPS) requiring 15 percent of electricity generated in the U.S. to come from renewables by 2020.

The legislation proposed by Domenici, which was co-authored by Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), expanded the standard to 20 percent as well as included clean coal technology and nuclear power—and argued it would bring more states into the clean energy fold.

"If we insist on forcing electricity generators to reach specific targets on the use of clean energy sources, then let's make sure we allow all clean sources to be considered," said Domenici yesterday addressing the U.S. Senate.

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[bananas]

1. Great news! Thanks! nt

[fazoolius_2006]

3. How is this great news?

Shouldn't we be using more nuclear energy? Heck France is using 90+% nuclear energy. Wouldn't this also reduce our dependence on foreign oil? I am all for working to do my part to be energy efficient, but fighting against nuclear energy seems counter productive to me.

[bananas]

4. No, it won't reduce our dependence on foreign oil

France - about 78% of their electricity is nuclear.
They import oil, just like us.
They went with nuclear for electricity because they didn't have much coal.
We don't use oil for electricity, we use coal - we are the Saudi Arabia of coal.

"France's annual oil demand so much outstrips its annual production that more than 95% of its needs are met by imports ... this has made France the world's fifth-greatest net oil importer"
http://www.cslforum.org/france.htm

For solving global warming, there are better solutions than new nuclear plants.
Al Gore talked about it in his policy address: http://nyu.edu/community/gore.html
He also spent a whole day discussing these issues before the house and senate: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x480960

[Metta]

2. Thanks for posting.. Good news.

Have a donut. :donut: :donut: :)