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IntroductionBeyond Nuclear opposes taxpayer subsidies for nuclear energy. The U.S. nuclear power industry is a mature industry that has not paid for itself throughout its existence. It has garnered an estimated one half trillion dollars in taxpayer subsdies over the past 50 years, compared to about one tenth that amount for renewable energy. Utilities and their CEOs are lobbying especially hard in the current climate to expand these subsidies to unprecedented levels, in large part because it is the only financially feasible route to new construction. Industry CEOs have admitted that without 100% subsidization, no new nuclear reactors will be built. Beyond Nuclear campaigns to eliminate all subsidies for nuclear power. (Artwork courtesy of Avenging Angels.) Breaking News Warning: Hidden nuclear subsidies in Lieberman-Warner climate change bill could exceed $500 billion Beyond Nuclear is a key member of an alliance of environmental groups that oppose the hidden subsidies for nuclear energy in the Lieberman-Warner climate change bill. Athough the word 'nuclear' never appears in the language of the bill, analysis by Friends of the Earth shows that there could be upwards of $500 billion in taxpayer subsidies directed toward new nuclear reactors. This would constitute the biggest handout in history awarded to the nuclear power industry. Beyond Nuclear believes that subsidies for nuclear (as well as coal, also the recipient of huge handouts in the same bill) have no place in legislation meant to address climate change. We urge you to contact your senator and insist that he or she opposes any nuclear subsidies in the bill and all amendments likely to be offered in June that would further bloat the nuclear power coffers. Summary of "Fred Upton, One of the Nuclear Power Industry's Best Friends in Congress" A summary on the nuclear power cheerleading carried out by U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (Republican from southwest Michigan's 6th congressional district) throughout the course of his long congressional career. Full Report: "Fred Upton, One of the Nuclear Power Industry's Best Friends in Congress" Full report on the nuclear power cheerleading carried out by U.S. Congressman Fred Upton (Republican from southwest Michigan's 6th congressional district) throughout the course of his long congressional career, including extensive documentation. Upton has received many hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the electric utility, energy and natural reource, and nuclear power industries. Since 1995, he has sponsored one of the nuclear power industry's highest priorities, the Yucca Mountain dump proposal. More recently, Upton has attempted to further subsidize the nuclear power industry, at taxpayer expense, to the tune of tens to hundreds of billions of dollars. Upton is marching in lockstep with the Bush administration's push for a nuclear power relapse, even to the point of advocating radioactive waste reprocessing, which risks nuclear weapons proliferation worldwide. Supporting Documentation: "Campaign Contributions to Congressman Fred Upton by Political Action Committees and Individuals Associated with the Nuclear Power Industry," based on Federal Election Committee data, June 10, 2008. | 
