Hello Folks,

Please take action on this, even if you know your representatives do not support our tax dollars being used for nukes and coal, instead of truly clean, renewable power production. The more we speak out, the stronger their voice can be in DC.

Thank you,

Colleen



January 29, 2009

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late on the night of January
27 snuck in a provision to President Obama's economic stimulus package
that would allow as much as $50 BILLION of your dollars to be used as
loan guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors. This would
be on top of the $18.5 Billion taxpayer dollars already authorized by
Congress during the Bush administration.

Please CALL your Senators today (202-224-3121) AND send them an e-mail
by clicking here.

These loan guarantees would mean more nuclear reactors and more
radioactive waste piling up in communities across our country. They
would also mean less money for safer, cheaper and cleaner energy
alternatives like solar and wind power.

The provision is vaguely worded. It would authorize $50 Billion in new
loan guarantees for "eligible technologies. " These technologies
include nuclear, "clean coal," renewable energy sources and electric
transmission. But the stimulus package is intended to create new jobs
and economic activity over the next two years. Not only should new nuclear reactors
and the false concept of "clean coal" be excluded from taxpayer
support, but the reality is that neither technology is ready to
produce any jobs within the next two years.

The Department of Energy apparently would have to decide how to
allocate this $50 Billion. If it all went to safe, cost-effective
renewable energy sources,that would be one thing. Unfortunately, the
provision's backers, like Sens. Robert Bennett (R-UT) and Thomas
Carper (D-DE), are clear that their intent is that it would go for new
nuclear reactor construction. Yet the Congressional Budget Office
predicts a 50% default rate by nuclear utilities using this program!
This is simply a nuclear bailout waiting to happen, and we can't
afford it.

But it's not too late. You can help stop this nonsense. The full
Senate will vote on the stimulus package the week of February 2.
Please CALL your Senators now (Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and
tell them to stop all loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors. AND,
please send an e-mail to your Senators with the same message by
clicking here.

We expect a lot more activity on these issues over the next few days
and weeks, and we will keep you alerted to new developments. And NIRS,
Physicians for Social Responsibility and other groups are calling for
a National Lobby Day on nuclear power for February 27, 2009, which
falls right between the Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free conference and the
huge Power Shift conference. If you are coming to Washington for
either of those and are willing to meet with your Congressmembers, let
us know--we can set up meetings for you and assist in other ways too.
We'll be sending more information on the National Lobby Day soon.

Thanks for all you do,

- - - - - - - - - - - -
Michael Welch, volunteer
Redwood Alliance
PO Box 293
Arcata, CA 95518
707-822-7884
mwelch@redwoodallia nce.orgwww. redwoodalliance. org