Cape Wind (finally) gets the green light

After years of struggle and controversy, America's first offshore wind project finally got the green light when Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, approved the Cape Wind project on Apil 28. According to the Cape Wind press release, "Cape Wind’s proposal to build America’s first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal would provide most of the electricity used on Cape Cod and the Islands from clean, renewable energy - reducing this region’s need to import oil, coal and gas. Cape Wind will create new jobs, help stabilize electric costs, contribute to a healthier environment, increase energy independence and establish Massachusetts as a leader in offshore wind power".

What's wrong with the nuclear relapse? Kevin Kamps explains

Watch Kevin Kamps interviewed by Karl Grossman on Enviro Close-up covering all the bases on why nuclear power needs to be abandoned, not expanded.

Graham walks but climate bill still "dirty energy" legislation

South Carolina Senator, Lindsay Graham, may have taken his climate bill toys and gone home, but the impact is less relevant than the fact that the potential bill itself is a feeding frenzy for the nuclear industry. As quoted on BusinessGreen.com, Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps said of the bill that: "he saw as excessive support for the nuclear industry in the proposed legislation. He argued that the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the House of Representatives last June represents a better option. "The House Bill is not perfect by any means but it's so much better than the Senate Bill," he said, adding that the alternative Cantwell-Collins draft bill also offered an alternative approach.

"Kamps, who called the Kerry bill "dirty energy" legislation, said that the environmental movement is increasingly turning to state-level initiatives to address climate change issues, as Congress proves increasingly gridlocked. "In fact, Congress wants to intervene in state and regional activities," he complained. "In Kerry-Lieberman-Graham, they were going to dismantle the state and regional level cap and trade initiatives."

Earth Day founder says nuclear has no place in climate change

Denis Hayes, the coordinator of the first Earth Day 40 years ago, still believes that nuclear has no place in addressing climate change or emerging energy needs. Writing in The Cap Times, Hayes says "Let's not be duped again." Among the points he makes against nuclear energy are: "Nuclear is poised to soak up billions that could be invested far more prudently in hyper-efficiency and renewable energy. Energy efficiency can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of a new reactor, and produces immediate results. New reactors won’t come online for at least decade or more, meaning we’ll be that much further behind in slowing global warming. Renewable energy produces no radioactive waste, bomb-grade materials or terrorist risks." Read more.

Reactor cancer study has potential for conflict

In a press release issued today, Beyond Nuclear identified significant potential for conflict of interest in a proposed new study of cancer around U.S. nuclear reactors. The study, initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), has been offered to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). However, the chair of the NAS board that would conduct the study is former NRC chair, Richard Meserve. Furthermore, past NAS studies have raised concerns about absence of bias.  The two agencies will meet to discuss the study on April 26th, ironically the 24th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl reactor explosion that dispersed radiation across the planet. Although the study may be awarded to the NAS, Beyond Nuclear has concerns that the NRC - with a demonstrated bias toward industry priorities - will retain undue influence.