Kerry Urges Caution On Nuclear Power

[Mass]

Meltdown in support for new nuclear projects
http://www.necn.com/03/14/11/Meltdown-in-support-for-new-nuclear-proj/landing_politics.html?blockID=440639&feedID=4212

http://hubbub.wbur.org/2011/03/14/kerry-markey-nuclear

Kerry Urges Caution On Nuclear Power
By THE WBUR NEWSROOM Mar 14, 2011, 3:24 PM COMMENTSE-mail
The ongoing crisis in Japan has put nuclear safety back in the public eye. The crisis comes after the Obama administration suggested nuclear power as an alternative energy source to pursue.

But Sen. John Kerry today urged caution on the administration’s call. He says the public, seeing the threat of a nuclear meltdown grip Japan, will want guarantees that nuclear plants are safe, even under worse-case scenarios.

“We clearly need to have a new generation of safer, more fail-safe plants if any are going to be built,” the senior senator said while visiting a South End school. “Obviously this is going to go through a much greater scrutiny. It ought to. There’ll be a much tougher standard. There ought to be. Whether there’s any at all.”

Interestingly, the Globe seems to have heard differently.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/03/15/kerry_urges_debate_on_energy_policy/

Senator Joseph Lieberman, independent of Connecticut and a longtime supporter of nuclear energy who helped Kerry develop his climate change legislation, has called for the United States to “put the brakes on’’ nuclear power until events unfolding in Japan are understood.

Kerry’s statement did not call for any such slowdown. Instead it offered reminders of why skeptics came to support nuclear power as a flawed but necessary part of the nation’s energy policy.

“In recent years, environmentalists and policy makers in both parties started taking a fresh look at nuclear power because none of our current energy options are without a downside,’’ he said.

I wonder if it was two different events or if it is the usual Globe spin?

[MBS]

1. I hope the WBUR version is the accurate one.

If we really needed an additional wake-up call on the dangers of nuclear power (in addition to Chernobyl and Three Mile Island) , this is surely it.

IF you may remember, the nuclear power industry was a big donor to OBama, starting when he was running for senate in Illinois. .

[beachmom]

4. Yes but "This Moment on Earth" came out way before that,

and Kerry felt nuclear power was going to be PART of the solution to global climate change. His beef with it was the expense, the time it takes for them to be built, and storing used fuel. He wasn't against it. He just felt that it was not going to solve the long term problems of CO2 emissions.

Thing is, environmentalists are in disagreement about nuclear power. Some are for it, some are against. Yes, there are lobbyists for the industry, but in this case, I don't think Obama sold his soul to them. He simply felt (like Kerry) that it may be part of the solution to global climate change and getting off foreign oil.

[karynnj]

2. I think it is lazy BG reporting that was noting that Leiberman

explicitly called for a halt - while Kerry's comment was pointing to the value of careful citing and caution. I almost take this as Leiberman likely moving to what Kerry's position always was. In addition to explaining why environmentalists moved, Kerry was standing on their (and his) earlier reluctance.

[beachmom]

3. It is my understanding that it was the Tsunami, not the Earthquake

which has led to the problems with the nuclear reactor in Japan. The water knocked out the generators. Here in Georgia, there is a plan by Southern Co. to build a reactor near Augusta, the first one to be built since the Three Mile Island accident. I am not sure if it will now be delayed, although nobody in the GA government is calling for it not to be built or slowed down. Thing is, that part of the state is 200 miles inland with no chance of a Tsunami or even any big Earthquake.

I guess I don't see what is different today than a week ago as to whether one supports nuclear power. Either you do or you don't. I don't see what is happening in Japan has to do with nuclear reactors elsewhere. I wasn't impressed with Chancellor Merkel's panicked move in Germany, and I don't get why Lieberman is saying what he is saying. All of it is just catering to nervous voters who are never told how fossil fuels quietly kill millions (let's talk asthma, for example).

Interesting that we have no idea what Kerry thinks, given these conflicting reports.