Kari Lydersen reports that Dr. James Hansen, a scientist famous for sounding the alarm about climate change, visited Illinois to rally support for nuclear energy this week in a trip some saw as a push for state state legislation backed by Exelon. A coalition of scientists and conservationists including Hansen, Michael Shellenberger, an anti-nuclear activist turned high-profile nuclear proponent, and Whole Earth catalogue founder Stewart Brand sent an open letter to Illinois legislators asking them to do everything in your power to keep all of Illinois nuclear power plants running for their full lifetimes. Shellenberger, Hansen and philanthropist Rachel Pritzker spoke at Northwestern University journalism school, and they paid a visit to workers at the Exelon Clinton nuclear plant, one of up to three the company has threatened to close if the state does not pass a law ensuring Exelon up to $300 million more per year in revenue.
The letter says that 18,640 lives were saved by Exelon Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear plants, compared to the theoretical impacts of air pollution that would be caused by fossil fuel plants generating the same amount of energy. If those two plants close, the letter says, much of the nuclear energy would have to be made up for with coal or natural gas. One solution might be to expand Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard to include nuclear energy, says the letter. Such a change would allow Illinois to be more ambitious, achieving 70% or more of its electricity from clean energy. The standard should be set so that renewable energy has plenty of room to grow while ensuring that Illinois does not go backwards. The energy bill previously proposed by Exelon would create a low-carbon portfolio standard to replace the renewable portfolio standard. Critics have argued that the bill would diminish the case for new renewable energy in the state.
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
