Environment/Energy

Vermont Senate votes to shut state's only nuclear plant

By an overwhelming 26 to 4 vote, the Vermont Senate voted to deny a request by Entergy Corp., the operator of Vermont's sole nuclear plant, to extend its forty-year lifespan by an additional twenty years, forcing a shutdown of the aging reactor by 2012. The vote marks the first time a state has moved to shut down an operating reactor, and deals a severe blow to the troubled nuclear industry, which had hoped for a revival after President Obama made massive federal loan guarantees to promote construction of new nuclear plants a centerpiece of his proposed energy policy. Pictured:  Collapsed cooling tower, 2007

Tell Black nukes aren't green!

We're hearing that the pro-nuclear provisions in the Clean Energy Jobs Act (Senate Bill 450 / Assembly Bill 649) are still in flux, but that's not going to be true for long.

Can you take action today?

You can make a difference with just three calls -- to your state Senator, Representative and Rep. Spencer Black.

Nuclear 'tweaks' in energy bill could be a deal-breaker

When is a "tweak" in a legislative bill a deal breaker?

Maybe, just maybe, when the change is to an already controversial section on nuclear power that's part of the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Bill for Wisconsin.

Pro-nuclear changes being pushed by utilities could derail the whole thing.

WNPJ board member Bill Christofferson explains on WNPJ blog.

Latest problem undermines 'safe, clean' nuke sales job

In the midst of a big PR and lobbying campaign to try to sell nuclear power as a clean, safe solution to climate change, another problem pops up -- radioactive tritium leaking from plants, including (as the map shows) some incidents in Wisconsin. WNPJ Board member Bill Christofferson has more on the WNPJ Blog.

 

Dane Democrats back Carbon Free Nuclear Free campaign

Dane County Democrats have taken a stand against weakening state laws on nuclear power in Wisconsin, and have endorsed a Carbon Free Nuclear Free (CFNF) energy policy for the state.   Party members passed a resolution on the issue after hearing a talk from Jennifer Nordstrom, coordinator of the national CFNF campaign, at their monthly meeting Mar. 10.  The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County passed a similar resolution in October.

Clean Energy Jobs Act 'anti-nuclear?' We wish...

In a sort of Alice in Wonderland version of the debate now going on in the Wisconsin Legislature, one of the biggest supporters of nuclear power declares that the Clean Energy Jobs Act is "anti-nuclear" and written to please "fringe groups" like WNPJ. That comes as news to WNPJ and others who have been working to strengthen the bill, which would open the door to more nuclear reactors in the state.

At 'public' hearing, the view from the back of the bus

Most of the activists from WNPJ's Carbon Free Nuclear Free campaign, who attended a public hearing Jan. 27 to oppose the nuclear section of the Clean Energy Jobs Bill, waited more than eight hours to testify for four minutes in a nearly-empty room with almost all of the committee members gone.

Army gags rural neighbors of Badger

Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger, a WNPJ member group, reports:

Army officials have ordered rural neighbors of Badger Army Ammunition Plant (pictured) to suppress an environmental report by an independent consultant working with the local Restoration Advisory Board (RAB). 

2010/03/11: Wis Public Radio: Attempts to block more nuclear energy in Wisconsin

Chuck Quirmbach of Wisconsin Public Radio reports on the Carbon Free Nuclear Free Coalition, of which WNPJ is an active member:

Anti-nuclear groups are trying to close a potential window for expanded use of nuclear power, as Wisconsin lawmakers debate a global warming bill.

2010/03/04: MPR: Bill to undo (Minnesota) moratorium on nuclear plants stalls

While the Wisconsin legislature considers a Clean Energy Jobs Act that would open the door to more nuclear reactors in Wisconsin, a similar pro-nuclear proposal has suffered a major setback across the Mississippi in Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio reports:

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