Senate Rules Out Nuclear "As Green Energy"

This article is from http://www.nuclearfreeva.blogdpot.com/

By Marjorie Childress


2/10/10 9:37 PM

The concept that nuclear energy is a “green” energy was brushed aside by most Democrats on the Senate Rules committee Wednesday morning.

A memorial brought by Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, would have directed that the state environment department acknowledge nuclear energy as a “clean and efficient source of energy,” and that the state energy, minerals and natural resources department “include nuclear power as a green initiative under the top ten energy solutions for the state.”

Democrats on the committee tabled it without a debate.

“[There's] simply a misconception in what it is and how its used,” he said.

In the audience, Sharer’s memorial was supported by Adela Duran of the Uranium Producers of New Mexico, a group composed of five uranium mining companies. Her clients are wholeheartedly in support of the bill, she said, and believe nuclear energy is the most dependable clean energy source.

But Molly Brook of Conservation Voters of New Mexico testified that the memorial did not take into account the impact of by-products of producing nuclear energy, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Plus, she said, at the end of nuclear energy production, the byproducts remain toxic for thousands of years.

Sen. Kent Cravens, D-Albuquerque, spoke at length from his perch on the Rules Committee, in favor of the memorial. He said the radioactivity of uranium is a natural part of the environment, suggesting that the mining of uranium has no negative impact. Cravens described a university study he was part of 30 years ago that pinpointed the places where uranium ore mining has the most potential, saying they were places where “nobody had ever lived.”

“We could actually determine where the best area for harvesting uranium ore might be,” he said. “That map was determined for places where nobody had ever lived. That leaching [of uranium into the environment] already exists. You can’t get much greener than the way god created it.”

Cravens didn’t address the issue of water pollution from uranium mining in longstanding tribal as well as non-tribal communities that exist in places such as the Grants Uranium Belt.

After his remarks, the rest of the committee didn’t find it necessary to debate the issue. Senator Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, moved to table the memorial, which was quickly affirmed, with Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, being the lone dissenting Democrat.

Sharer didn’t seem happy.
“I’m not a bit surprised, because scary works,” he said to the committee, “but you have made an error.”
Read more:

http://newmexicoindependent.com/46971/senate-rules-gives-thumbs-down-to-nuclear-power-as-green

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