Wind power - and soon solar - outpace nuclear energy in the U.S.

According to the International Energy Agency nuclear power can only reduce worldwide emissions of CO2 by 6% by 2050…..as opposed to 54% and 21% respectively for the energy savings and renewable energy.That's why the U.S. needs to be the leader in the promotion and development of sustainable energy, and reject nuclear power. This agenda is backed by two new analyses.

In a recent report by the US Energy Information Administration, the agency found that renewable energy represented 11% of American production in 2009, more than nuclear energy.  With 1210 mw of renewable energy installed, the total capacity added in 2009 reaches 4,000 mw. The United States is now the largest producer of wind energy in the world, ahead of Germany, according to the GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council), with a total capacity of 25,170 mw as opposed to 23,900 mw for Germany.  But remarkably the United States should this year also take the lead in the solar energy sector.  The American production of wind-energy electricity made possible a saving of 54 million tons of CO2 in 2009, reducing the carbon emission in the electricity sector by 2%, or the equivalent of the removal of 9 million cars, stated the AWAE. Read more.

Huge win in GA as judge declares permitting of new reactors illegal

A Fulton County, GA Superior Court judge ruled on April 30 that the Georgia Public Service Commission acted illegally in violation of Georgia state law in granting a permit to build two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle. The court found that the Public Service Commission never outlined why the expansion is in the public interest, a requirement of Georgia law. The White house awarded $8 billion in federal loan guarantees for two new reactors at the site. But the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy challenged the PSC's licensing permit and won. The law suit "aimed to protect Georgians from unfair utility costs in connection with the proposed construction of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia," according to the SACE press release.

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."