[NukeNet] $50 billion in nuclear subsidies still in energy bill?

[Mike Ewall]

I've seen several alerts about the renewable electricity standard 
being cut out of the energy bill, but nothing lately about the 
nuclear subsidies in there.  Anyone have an update on that?

Here's one bit of feedback I saw after inquiring on a local list 
where the renewables alert was sent out...

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According to an email from Friends of the Earth, Pete Domenici has 
just added an amendment to the Farm Bill that would authorize the $50 
billion in loan guarantees for nuclear energy.

What folks may not realize (I just learned this in DC this weekend 
doing lobbying visits with FCNL - the Quaker Lobbying organization) 
is that loan guarantees for "advanced technologies" were a part of 
the 2005 energy bill, and new nuclear is considered such a 
technology.  So, essentially, the loan guarantees were a "done deal" 
two years ago.

What has changed and what must be fought, is that under the 2005 
bill, the loan guarantees were at least subject to Congressional 
authorization (under FCRA - the Federal Credit Reserve Act).  The new 
bill apparently would enable DOE to issue such loans WITHOUT such 
authorization.   I'll get you all the reference on this.
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Can anyone shed more light on this?

Thanks,

Mike Ewall
Energy Justice Network
215-743-4884
catalyst at actionpa.org
http://www.energyjustice.net