Opposition needed to HB 104, the "ANTHEM Act," as Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee set to hold hearing

Here is the link to the Nov. 29, 2020, 56-organization coalition letter of opposition.

Patricia Marida of the Ohio Sierra Club Nuclear-Free Committee has also prepared a concise Opponents' Analysis of HB 104.

Your help is urgently needed. See this link for how to take action, as well as for the coalition's press release.

Update on December 17, 2020 by admin

OHIO NUCLEAR EXPERIMENT: ANTHEM Act Opposed by 108 Organizations

December 17, 2020

Toledo attorney Terry Lodge has submitted testimony, endorsed by 108 local, regional and national environmental, public health and safe energy groups, to the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee, expressing strong opposition to the "Advanced Nuclear Technology Helping Energize Mankind Act," House Bill (HB) 104. The committee will hear testimony on the bill for the second time today, despite the state legislature's lame duck session being beset by a worsening Covid-19 outbreak. The bill would subsidize so-called Small Nuclear Reactor research, development, and deployment, and the same for a thorium fuel chain, and high-level radioactive waste reprocessing, at Ohio taxpayer expense, risk, and liability, despite an ongoing nuclear bribery/bailout scandal. See the coalition's press release.

Nuclear fiasco: SCANA ex-CEO to plead guilty to fraud, get prison, pay $5 million

As reported by John Monk in The State.

A link to the 18-page plea agreement is embedded in the article.

ILLINOIS NUKE BRIBERY CHARGES: Scandal threatens Illinois House Speaker

On November 18, Anne Pramaggiore, former CEO of Commonwealth Edison (a major subsidiary of Exelon Nuclear) and three others, including Michael McClain, a confidant of Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, were charged with bribery in a ComEd lobbying scheme. In recent years, ComEd has secured massive rate hikes, and Exelon a $2.35 billion bailout at ratepayer expense, with the help of Madigan, who has served as IL House Speaker since the early 1980s, longer than any counterpart in the country. The scandal threatens to oust Madigan from the Speakership. There are reports of dark money in current Illinois energy legislation lobbying, as Exelon seeks even more billion dollar bailouts for its dangerously old reactor fleet.

MORE.

Recent news coverage re: alleged bribery potentially associated with rate hikes and bailouts in IL

(1.) " ‘Dark money’ group raises fears in Illinois energy negotiations," Nov. 24, by Kari Lydersen, Midwest Energy News;

(2.) "Indictment raises questions on what ComEd CEO Dominguez knew and did," Nov. 19, by Steve Daniels, Crain's Chicago Business;

(3.) "Survival odds now tilt against Madigan," Nov. 19, by Greg Hinz, Crain's Chicago Business;

(4.) Editorial: "What the ComEd scandal means, and what it costs," Nov. 19, Chicago Tribune;

(5.) "More House Democrats drop support for Madigan, putting his decades-long hold on speaker’s post in peril," Nov. 19, reported by the Chicago Tribune;

(6.) "Madigan speaks out on indictment of key confidant and allies as defense lawyers in bribery case blame overzealous prosecutors," Nov. 19, reported by the Chicago Tribune;

(7.) "Madigan denies wrongdoing in wake of latest indictments," Nov. 19, by A.D. Quig, Crain's Chicago Business;

(8.) "Ex-ComEd CEO, 3 others indicted," Nov. 18, reported by Crain's Chicago Business;

(9.) "Madigan confidant and ex-ComEd CEO charged with bribery in lobbying scheme," Nov. 18, reported by the Chicago Sun Times.

‘Dark money’ group raises fears in Illinois energy negotiations

As reported by Kari Lydersen at Midwest Energy News.

The dark money-tainted IL energy negotiations, involving Exelon Nuclear and the state legislature, are not unlike dark money-tainted OH energy negotiations, involving FirstEnergy Nuclear and the state legislature.

Back in 2016, Exelon already secured approval for $2.35 billion in dangerously old reactor bailouts from IL ratepayers, compliments of a compliant IL state legislature.

In 2019, FirstEnergy secured approval for $1.3 billion in dangerously old atomic reactor/dirty old coal burner bailouts from OH ratepayers, compliments of a compliant OH state legislature.

In both states, federal charges have been brought against multiple conspirators -- including the OH State House Speaker -- re: alleged bribery intertwined with the bailouts. The scandal in IL may take down the State House Speaker there, who has served since the early to mid-1980s, the longest such tenure in the U.S.