Nov. 29, 2001
On Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed
legislation to extend a law that limits the financial
liability for nuclear power plants hit by a catastrophic
accident or terrorist attack. Under the plan, the owners of
the 103 nuclear power plants in the United States pool
together their insurance coverage, and their total liability
is limited to $9.5 billion. If a Chernobyl-like accident were
to happen, though, and the costs exceeded $9.5 billion, then
U.S. taxpayers would have to foot the rest of the bill.
Nuclear power plant operators say that the
government-backed guarantee is necessary if the moribund
industry is to have a revival, but this is a government
subsidy of the worst kind. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who
opposed the legislation, aptly described it as "highway
robbery." The nuclear power industry has been in financial
trouble for years because it's a polluting, high-cost source
of energy. For thousands of years the waste that nuclear power
leaves behind will be deadly, and it is 77,000 tons of this
waste that the nuclear power industry wants to permanently
bury in Nevada. A case could be made for providing a modest
government investment into clean, renewable power sources --
solar, wind and geothermal are some examples -- but it is a
travesty to provide taxpayer-backed insurance coverage for the
nuclear power industry, which jeopardizes the environment.
One reason for the success of the nuclear power liability
legislation is that several other measures were tacked on to
the bill to make it palatable to members of Congress who had
reservations about the continued government giveaway. The
legislation's sweeteners were provisions to improve security
at nuclear power plants, requirements that are unassailable on
their own. If the provisions linked to the aftermath of Sept.
11 had been stripped from the legislation and had been
considered separately -- which they should have been -- then
support for the insurance subsidy would have eroded.
The nuclear power liability legislation is symptomatic of a
disturbing pattern in Congress: Goodies for big businesses,
and legislative responses to the events of Sept. 11, have been
mixed together in legislation. For instance, the airport
security bill signed into law by President Bush contained
unrelated language sponsored by the House that shielded jet
makers, airlines and the owner of the World Trade Center from
huge damage awards connected to the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. And the economic stimulus package passed by the
House, ostensibly intended to jump-start the economy following
the terrorist attacks, also included needless billion-dollar
giveaways to major corporations through the repeal of the
minimum tax that is imposed on corporations.
Although the House has passed an extension of the nuclear
power insurance subsidy, the Senate has yet to act on
extending the law, which is set to expire in August. The
Senate should show better sense than the House and defeat the
legislation that would prop up an ailing, polluting industry.
Editorial: Finding the courage to end a
relationship
Nov. 29, 2001
Two weeks ago, when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced
its support for the Yucca Mountain Project, Las Vegas Chamber
of Commerce President Pat Shalmy moved quickly to sever the
local group's ties to the national organization. Shalmy
demonstrated the same level-headed decision making that marked
his earlier tenure as county manager for the Clark County
Commission.
Opposing the construction of a nuclear waste dump isn't
only about protecting the health and safety of local
residents. If a dump is built just 90 miles northwest of Las
Vegas, it also would pose an economic nightmare for the Las
Vegas Valley, potentially scaring away tourists and business
investment.
Next week the Henderson Chamber of Commerce will determine
if it should follow the lead of Shalmy and the Las Vegas
chamber. The Henderson chamber, and others throughout the
state, should step up and let the national organization know
that Nevada won't be a dumping ground for high-level nuclear
waste.
Let your opinion be known. Mail us a letter.
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