Obama disappoints in State of the Union, calling for oil, coal and nuclear

In a disappointing moment during his State of the Union speech that surely must have alienated many in the environmental movement that helped elect him president, Barack Obama called for the three pillars of pollution to address U.S. energy needs. In citing the need for more “clean energy jobs” the president outlined three of the priorities most bitterly opposed by environmentalists – “building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. . .  making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development. . .  continued investment in advanced biofuels and clean coal technologies.” He added that it was also necessary to pass “a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America”. 

In a short statement released to the press shortly after the speech, Beyond Nuclear's Linda Gunter said: “Obama’s corporate colors have been showing for some time but now they are on full display. How he can see oil, coal and nuclear as compatible with climate change legislation is breathtaking. Tonight’s performance really saw Obama, Inc. at its environmental nadir.”

Despite the uphill battle faced by Beyond Nuclear and other environmental and anti-nuclear groups to confront the enormous power of the corporate lobbyists, our efforts will continue and increase as we seek to educate and inform our leadership about the need to drive the CON team (Coal, Oil, Nuclear) away from the federal feeding trough in order to give renewable energy a real chance of success. Please be sure to sign out letter to Obama in our Take Action section. And watch for new actions, coming soon.