US energy chief: don't delay new nuclear plants

[IDemo]

msnbc.com news services
updated 3/15/2011 5:21:33 PM ET 2011-03-15T21:21:33

WASHINGTON — Regulators should press ahead with approving construction licenses for new nuclear power plants despite Japan's nuclear crisis, President Barack Obama's top energy official said Tuesday.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a House panel that "the American people should have full confidence that the United States has rigorous safety regulations in place to ensure that our nuclear power is generated safely and responsibly." But he said that the administration "is committed to learning from Japan's experience."

Chu told reporters on Capitol Hill that he thought construction license applications pending at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission could proceed.

The NRC may decide in the fourth quarter of this year whether to issue such licenses to Southern Co and SCANA Corp to build two reactors each.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42097170/ns/politics-more_politics/

[PoliticAverse]

1. "is committed to learning from Japan's experience." - Apparently, not. n/t

[somone]

2. So tone-deaf

[snagglepuss]

3. The same rigourous standards as applied to oil wells?

[madokie]

4. screw Chu

in the ass with one of those partially melted nuclear fuel rods in the disaster in Japan. Fuxk him sideways

[joshcryer]

7. Wow.

madokie (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-16-11 06:48 AM
Response to Original message
4. screw Chu in the ass with one of those partially melted nuclear fuel rods in the disaster in Japan. Fuxk him sideways

[madokie]

9. I'd think you'd have better things to post

I guess not. Since we don't agree on nuclear power you have to try to make me look bad when ever you can, huh.

[Fumesucker]

5. Yep, our nuke plants are totally safe..

That's why the corporations that own them are fully responsible for any damages they might cause..

Oh.. Wait..

[leveymg]

6. The Obama Admin. is in the pocket of the nuclear industry. Can't be trusted to protect us on this.

We need to go back to the only tactic that has ever worked on this issue: massive, non-violent civil disobedience and occupations of nuclear sites under construction. We might want to add to those tactics the occupation of gov't offices, beginning with Mr. Chu's.

[vicarofrevelwood]

8. DON'T YOU PEOPLE GET IT YET,

OR SHOULD WE DROP YOUR GE LOVING ASSES ON TOP OF THAT MELTDOWN?

[groundloop]

10. Even if you disagree with Secretary Chu, at least give him some respect

Dr. Chu is one of the most intelligent people to ever work in government, and don't forget that he has a Nobel Prize in physics. At the very least he's not some hack political appintee who has the position merely as payback for campaign contributions. I'm not saying I agree with him, but we at least should be civil enough to disagree with him based on facts and not just throw out some snarky comments.

[marions ghost]

11. The most intelligent people can be

incredibly blind fools, if not tools.

Chu does not instill confidence whatsoever. He has to take the heat.

[jschurchin]

12. Just what we need

so that our city's can look like this



or this



or even this



Whats the one thing missing here folks? Oh yeah FUCKING PEOPLE.
How many wastelands do we have to have before we learn? Are we THAT FUCKING STUPID.

Fukushima is a wasteland. No one will ever live near there again. Is this what we want here? Well is it?

[DainBramaged]

13. Sure......

[Generic Other]

14. This is so predictable -- a lot like catastrophic accidents

As long as we have the one (nukes), we will have the other.

[truebrit71]

15. Missing the key phrase..."Built by the lowest bidder"...Yup, I am positively glowing with..

..confidence..

[GeorgeGist]

16. 'should have' doesn't pass the hyperbole test.

[Johonny]

17. Tough choice there

I would probably delay turning said new plants on, particularly until a full lessons learned and fault finding has been done in Japan, but delaying construction...