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ARTICLE ARCHIVE

Nuclear Costs

Estimates for new reactor construction costs continue to sky-rocket. Conservative estimates range between $6 and $12 billion per reactor but Standard & Poor's predicts a continued rise. The nuclear power industry is lobbying for heavy federal subsidization including unlimited loan guarantees but the Congressional Budget Office predicts the risk of default will be well over 50 percent, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. Beyond Nuclear opposes taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies for the nuclear energy industry.

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Entries by admin (618)

Wednesday
Nov172021

Congress, Enough is Enough! Pass the BBBA WITHOUT $35 Billion More in Nuclear Bailouts!

Thanks to NEIS and NIRS for the following alert:

NEIS Action Alert

Build Back Better Act (BBBA) Vote expected week of 11/15/21 in U.S. House

Say “NO!” to $35+ Billion Nuke Subsidies in BBB Act

Greetings All –

The U.S. House is expected to vote on the Build Back Better Act as early as this week.  Huge subsidies for Exelon’s [and other companies'] nuclear and fossil fuels are imbedded in a so-called climate bill.  It’s up to you – and us – to stop them.  There is something you can do today:

Click the links in the NIRS Alert below, and fill out the letters opposing the bailout

THE NIRS ACTION ALERT:

Our friends at NIRS have put together this great alert below, which also provides some links to fill-in forms to be sent to Congress opposing the nuclear bailout in the BBBA.

If you feel industrious and angry enough at the industry, CALL both your U.S. Senators' offices, and that of your U.S. House Rep., urging them to remove the nuclear subsidies before they vote.  If everyone is so worried about the “price tag” for the BBBA, here’s a great way to ax out $35 billion, better put to things like more renewables or lead pipe replacements.

      Call both your U.S. Senators, and tell them “No more nuclear bailouts!  Fund renewables instead.” Look up your U.S. Senators' DC office contact info. here.

      Call your U.S. Representative with the same message. Look up your Rep.'s contact info. here.

Or, you can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard number [202-224-3121], to be connected with your Congress Members' DC offices.

NIRS ALERT

From: Nuclear Information & Resource Service <nirs@nirs.org>
Date: Fri, Nov 12, 2021 at 1:03 PM
Subject: Tell Congress: Enough is Enough - Pass the BBBA WITHOUT Nuclear Bailouts

 

Dear Friend,

Enough is enough. We can't 'build back better' on dirty energy. 

Tell Congress: Pass the Build Back Better Act WITHOUT Billions for Nuclear Corporations

A week ago, the House of Representatives passed the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF), which contains a $6 billion bailout for uneconomical nuclear reactors and billions more for new nuclear development.

Now, Congress is poised to pass the Build Back Better Act, which contains over $35 billion MORE in subsidies for nuclear reactors. What a waste! This bailout is nothing more than a freebie to nuclear corporations - and we can’t let them get away with it. 

ACT NOW! Tell Congress to cancel the Nuclear PTC and provide real solutions to climate, jobs, and justice.

Will you call on your U.S. Senators, U.S. Representative, and President Biden, and demand they cancel the nuclear subsidies in the BBBA and invest in a just transition to 100% renewable energy? 

 

TAKE ACTION!

Thank you and be well,

 

The NIRS Team

Diane D’Arrigo

Denise Jakobsberg

Tim Judson

Ann McCann

Hannah Smay 


Nuclear Information and Resource Service
6930 Carroll Avenue Suite 340 | Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
3012706477 | nirs@nirs.org | nirs.org

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser

Tuesday
Sep212021

NEIS ACTION ALERT -- 3 actions to take to fight $60 billion in nuclear bailouts

NEIS Action Alert

Say “NO!” to $60+ Billion Nuke Subsidies in BBB Act

Greetings All –

Congress is set to begin voting on the Build Back Better Act as early as this week.  Huge subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels are imbedded in a so-called climate bill.  It’s up to you – and us – to stop them!

There are three important actions that you can begin taking today, and continue doing thru the end of the vote at the end of September (see details below):

1.    Contact your members of Congress, and tell them to vote NO on nuclear subsidies

2.    Attend the Fridays for the Future Climate Strike, Friday, Sept. 24th (events in Chicago and Aurora, IL)

3.    Widely distribute the critical remarks of former NRC Chair Greg Jaczko

 

1.   CLIMATE EMERGENCY! TELL CONGRESS: “NO!” NUCLEAR SUBSIDIES, TRANSFER THE FUNDS TO RENEWABLES:

Help stop the $60 billion nuclear giveaway in the BBB Act!

What would you do with $60 billion?  Maybe – finally give Flint, MI a safe water supply?  Build 29,000 2-MW wind turbines?  Maybe take the lead out of drinking water?  ALL of it, everywhere?

Some members of Congress think it’s better to bailout out aging, money-losing nuclear reactors by giving ~$60 billion to profitable nuclear companies like Exelon – which would be eligible for about $25 billion alone.  Sen. Ben Cardin (D.-MD; received $80,000 in contributions from Exelon and IBEW the past 5 years) and others – some from Illinois -- want to do just that.  They’re using the Build Back Better Act as a “Trojan Horse” to enrich profitable corporations, not fight climate disruption.  You can bet that money will go to the CEOs and shareholders, not to building wind farms.  That’s a helluva way to deal with Climate Code Red!

It’s our job to stop this giveaway, and tell Congress:

You can’t build an energy future by bailing out the past!

With the little time left, join with NEIS, NIRS, Beyond Nuclear, Indigenous Environmental Network, Sierra Club National, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters, Food and Water Watch, and more than 250 other organizations nationwide to CALL your Senators and Congressperson and tell them: 

NO NUCLEAR BAILOUTS!  Fund renewable energy and efficiency, not CEOs and shareholders.”

You can remind them that 2022 is an election year, and you will remember this vote and their actions.

(To find your officials:  Illinois residents, click here; others: use the Capital Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected).

Let NEIS know (neis@neis.org) who you spoke to, and what their response was.  Thanks!

 

 

 

2.   JOIN NEIS AT “FRIDAY FOR THE FUTURE CLIMATE STRIKE” MARCH, IN CHICAGO, FRIDAY, SEPT. 24, 1:00 P.M.:

NEIS needs between 5-8 people to march in this Friday’s FFF “Uproot the System” Climate Strike, an international event to call attention to Climate Code Red.   NEIS will provide handouts, flags, white Tyvec radiation suits, a banner and signs.  It will be 60s cool (temperature, not fashion), possibly drizzly, and you will be near Lake Michigan, so DRESS WARM.  Masks will be required, and COVID distancing will be practiced.

We will meet at 12:45 p.m. at 535 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL. (NOTE: there have been 2 conflicting messages about the start time and place.  If you miss us here, go to “The Bean” at 2 p.m.  Thanks).

Please RSVP to NEIS at (773)342-7650; neis@neis.org) if you can lend a hand, some feet and your courage.  Thanks!

3.   FORMER NRC CHAIR GREG JACZKO BLASTS NUCLEAR BAILOUTS; DISTRIBUTE  HIS REMARKS:

Gandhi said, “What you do may seem insignificant; but it is EXTERMELY IMPORTANT that you do it!”

Below are links to two of the most important public web segments against nuclear power bailouts and use as a climate change fighter in recent memory.  Please 1.) listen to these segments and click “like,” 2.) forward them to your friends, reporters and elected officials. This is a small and easy, but extremely important action.  People and officials can be dismissive of the lay public’s concerns and objections to nuclear; but to contradict the former Chair of the NRC, they’re going to have to prove they know more than he does about nuclear power.

Greg Jaczko: Funding Nuclear Energy Is A WASTE Of Government Resources, The Industry Is DYING

7,748 views  -- The Hill Rising --  Sep 17, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HJ_mBP5y1o&list=TLPQMTgwOTIwMjFokPuXHgiEOw&index=2

Former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Greg Jaczko, explains why U.S. nuclear programs are not up to par in fighting climate change.

Ryan Grim: DANGEROUS Dead End Nuclear Energy Subsidies Are A WASTE Of Money

12,288 views – The Hill Rising -- Sep 16, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn4vYWAMSrs&list=TLPQMTgwOTIwMjFokPuXHgiEOw&index=11

Ryan Grim makes the case against investing more in nuclear energy.

 

Thanks in advance!  Keep on doing!

--Dave Kraft, NEIS Director--


--
David A. Kraft, Director
3411 W. Diversey #13

Chicago, IL  60647

(773)342-7650

neis@neis.org

www.neis.org

SKYPE address:  davekhamburg

NEIS is a member of EarthShare Illinois
No more Chornobyls!  No more Fukushimas!Invest  in a nuclear-free world -- today!

Thursday
Sep162021

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: Protesting nuke power bailouts in Chicago

Photo by Dave Kraft, Director, NEIS of ChicagoOn September 13, Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps, and fellow Don't Waste Michigan board member Michael Keegan, traveled to Chicago. They stood with Nuclear Energy Information Service director Dave Kraft, NEIS board members and supporters, as part of the National Day of Opposition Against Nuclear Bailouts. (Kamps and Keegan are holding the yellow "Nuclear Power? No Thanks!" flags in the photo, taken in front of a Marc Chagall mosaic mural outside Exelon Nuclear HQ in downtown Chicago.) Participants wore placards and handed out pamphlets protesting the around $25 billion Exelon would receive as part of $58 billion in federal infrastructure bill nuclear subsidies currently proposed. Ironically, later that day, a $694 million Illinois bailout for dangerously age-degraded Exelon reactors was approved.
Wednesday
Sep152021

NEIS pieces on bailouts and corruption links

Friday
Sep032021

NEIS: ILLINOIS ENERGY TRANSFORMATION #25: NUCLEAR BAILOUT UPDATES - The “Bailout Blues Show” Continues

As posted by Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) of Chicago, IL director Dave Kraft on Sept. 3, 2021 (NEIS just celebrated its 40th anniversary as Illinois's nuclear power watchdog in June):

 

ILLINOIS ENERGY TRANSFORMATION #25:

NUCLEAR BAILOUT UPDATES

The “Bailout Blues Show”  Continues

Sept. 3, 2021

This originally was going to be a “summer summary” of NEIS’ work.  However, the importance and prominence of the proposed nuclear bailouts at both the Illinois-State and federal levels argued for a delay of that idea, and an update report to people committed to safe-energy and a less-nuclear world and the negative effects of the continued “nuclear hostage crisis” on our carbon-free/nuclear-free future.

ILLINOIS ENERGY BILL MOVES FORWARD, STILL IN LIMBO:

The omnibus energy bill (SB18, amended; now SB1751, House Amendment 1, no link available yet) continues to lurch forward with the surprise Senate passage on Tuesday Sept. 2 in the wee hours of the morning.  It now has to be approved by the Illinois House before it can get to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for signing.  There is no guarantee that this scenario will play out.  If it doesn’t, it leaves Illinois with no cogent, climate-oriented energy policy moving into an increasingly climate disrupted world.

While many hail the numerous and gargantuan compromises that led to the Senate adoption, from a climate perspective it seems to represent a “the operation was a success, but the patient died” type situation.  After all, the climate does not compromise.

THE ILLINOIS NUCLEAR BAILOUT -- ONCE MORE, WITHOUT FEELING:

In the most recent iteration, the legislation provides for a $694 million bailout for Exelon’s Byron, Dresden, and Braidwood nuclear power plants, to be paid by Illinois ratepayers over a 5 year period (by comparison, renewables only get ~$600 million in the recently passed Senate bill).  Reportedly this amount was negotiated between Exelon and the Governor’s office, the latter largely assuming responsibility for nuclear bailout negotiations with the company in drafting the bill. 

While this amount was a far cry from the amount proposed by organized labor’s Climate Jobs Coalition in their bill – as much as $500+ million per year, for up to 10-15 years! – it was also nearly twice the amount that an independent audit commissioned by the State suggested was needed.  In April Synapse Energy Economics stated that at most Exelon should receive a maximum of $350 million over five years, possibly less if energy prices changed in favor of Exelon’s unprofitable nuclear plants.  No justification was ever publicly made to account for doubling this ratepayer financed bailout.

In exchange Exelon ostensibly has agreed  to keep open the three nuclear plants for the next five years, temporarily saving the jobs and tax bases tied to their operation.  Hopefully, communities will use this time to finally implement closure contingency plans to soften the economic blows of the inevitable reactor closures.

However, if the Illinois House can’t agree to the already-passed Senate bill, and no legislation is put forth, Exelon states it will close its Byron nuclear power station on Sept. 13; and Dresden in November.  It claims these are hard date limits, although the media has quoted Exelon spokespeople as saying that “ the company has "established off-ramps" that will allow contingencies for continuing operations if legislation is passed "with enough time for us to safely refuel the plants".  Exelon made similar threats prior to the 2016 passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, which resulted in a $2.35 billion nuclear bailout for two nuclear plants.

NEIS has repeatedly pointed out to media, legislators and officials that Exelon’s threat of closure is a lot squishier than it sounds and appears.  NEIS provided a 2016 letter from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission proving that any reactor can in fact be relicensed and reopened, even after it has been closed and de-fueled, provided it would meet safety requirements and standards.  No one has responded to this information.

All of this is played out against the totally undiscussed backdrop of Exelon’s intention to jettison its unprofitable nuclear plants into a separate LLC company, currently called “Spin-Co”.  For all the Exelon bluster of how important nuclear power is – at least important enough to require perpetual state bailouts -- it seems the Company can’t wait to put as much distance between itself (or at least its balance sheets) and unprofitable nuclear power.

NUCLEAR BAILOUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL – RECONCILIATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS LOADED WITH NUCLEAR PORK:

The Biden Administration is considered by many, especially within the nuclear industry, to be one of the most pro-nuclear administrations to come along in a long time.  This is apparently confirmed by the funds dedicated to nuclear bailouts and other nuclear programs in the proposed Infrastructure and Reconciliation packages in play.

The $1.5 trillion Infrastructure bill allocated  ~$12 billion towards nuclear power -- $6 billion towards bailing out the failed nuclear plants around the country, and the rest to go primarily for “new” nuclear proposals, such as the so-called “small modular nuclear reactors” (SMNRs).

The Reconciliation package thinks on a much grander scale.  Proposals offered in the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee by Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D.-MD) call for up to $46 billion in nuclear spending, much of this to rescue economically unviable nuclear plants around the country.  It is interesting to note that Sen. Cardin has received ~$80,000 in campaign contributions over the last five years from the IBEW and Exelon Corporation, according to Open Secrets.

An analysis done by Washington groups suggests that nearly 60+% of these funds -- ~$30 billion -- would be eligible to go to Exelon and Energy Harbor (the former First Energy in Ohio).  Both companies have recently been besmirched by FBI investigations and indictments, and admission of guilt for lobbying irregularities.  In both cases the scandals resulted in the Speakers of the House in Illinois and Ohio losing their positions.

A virtual press conference was conducted on July 15 by Friends of the Earth, Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), and NEIS featuring a report done by Dr. Mark Cooper of the Vermont School of Law dealing with these revelations and nuclear bailouts.  It was entirely ignored by Illinois media and officials. 

On August 24, 2021 240+ organizations sent a sign-on letter opposing subsidies for nuclear power in the Reconciliation (S.2291/H.R.4024) and Infrastructure bills.  The letter was sent to Senate and House leadership, and to President Joseph Biden.  The 240+ organizations demanded that these bailouts be omitted from the budget and funds be directed to investments in carbon-free, nuclear-free clean energy.

OUTCOMES, IMPLICATIONS, AND ACTIONS:

Every dollar spent – no, wasted  – on bailing out aging, degrading nuclear plants is a dollar not spent on brand new, proven renewable energy resources, efficiency, storage and transmission improvements which will be the backbone of the 21st Century energy infrastructure.  The number of jobs temporarily “saved” in the short term by nuclear bailouts are costly, and are dwarfed by the number of jobs in the renewables and efficiency sectors – jobs that will not be created if nuclear power gets more bailouts.  The ignored Cooper Report demonstrates the negative effects of nuclear bailouts, as did renown physicist and energy analyst Amory Lovins in remarks at a Congressional Briefing held in March 2021 (@ 55:20).

At the Illinois state level, we will soon know whether a bailout will occur, and whether or not Exelon was sincere or bluffing about its intention to close Byron if they do not get one.  What is clear is that they – or their successor SpinCo – will most certainly be back for future bailouts if the plants continue to operate, definitely so if they get this bailout.

Once the bailout issue is resolved, an opening will occur to again raise issues that the current legislative debate and negotiations again unwisely failed to examine:  the implications of SpinCo, radioactive waste production, reactor decommissioning, and proactive just-transitions programs to protect reactor communities and workers from future “nuclear hostage crisis” episodes. 

At the federal level there is time to confront and defeat the hugely wasteful proposals in the Infrastructure and Reconciliation bills.  Spending $46 billion on aging, deteriorating reactors, which create radioactive waste, and which may close anyway, or new unproven ones which have no chance of becoming commercially available in time or in numbers sufficient to fight the climate crisis is dumb and wasteful energy policy, especially when (for example) the same amount spent on wind turbines alone would get you >300,000 brand new turbines, with an intermittency-adjusted output of electricity equal to nearly twice the output of the entire current nuclear industry, without adding to the nation’s continually growing radioactive waste problem.  As a climate intervention, trading plutonium for carbon is simply irrational energy policy.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Since this continues to be dealt with in the political arena, it is imperative that you let your elected officials know your position on nuclear power.  You can find out who they are at all levels of government by clicking here.  Then – contact them. Over and over.  And remind them: 2022 is an election year, and you are watching.

 


--
David A. Kraft, Director 
3411 W. Diversey #13Chicago, IL  60647(773)342-7650neis@neis.orgwww.neis.orgSKYPE address:  davekhamburgNEIS is a member of EarthShare Illinois
No more Chornobyls!  No more Fukushimas!

Invest  in a nuclear-free world -- today!