Lieberman, Warner To Push Nuclear Energy In Carbon Bill

Wed. May 21, 2008


Two of the main architects of Senate global warming legislation today will unveil a section for the bill intended to promote nuclear energy, which could open the floodgates for a myriad of potentially controversial proposals from both parties when floor debate starts next month. Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and John Warner, R-Va., will unveil a new nuclear title that will be offered to a bill the two authored with Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, which is aimed at reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade program. Lieberman and Warner will offer it as an amendment because Boxer has not favored language singling out nuclear energy. But all three senators suggested today they may not be at odds on at least this initial framework of a nuclear section. “We’re not going to lose Sen. Boxer,” Warner said to reporters after an event with Boxer, Lieberman and religious leaders promoting their bill, which will be on the Senate floor as early as June 2. “I think it will be relatively non controversial,” Lieberman added.

It is the only amendment Lieberman and Warner are talking about offering right now, he said. Besides simply establishing a nuclear title in the bill, the Lieberman-Warner amendment would aim to increase nuclear engineers and other workers and improve the financing and purchasing of equipment. But Lieberman warned there may be “some more controversial parts that will be put in the bill.” Warner said the nuclear section “will be the focal point of a lot of attention.” He said their plan will serve as a “building block” for others to work on during the floor debate. Lieberman said he and Warner are not addressing the speeding up of nuclear facility permits through amendments, and added that providing loan guarantees for nuclear production is possible. Furthermore, he said, their initial amendment does not address the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository or the broader issue of cleaning up and storing nuclear waste.

Boxer said Lieberman and Warner should have the votes to attach a nuclear title to the bill and said she may be amenable to provisions regarding training of workers, keeping production in America and nuclear safety. “They have the votes, so at the end of the day we will see what passes,” she said. Boxer said she will work with Lieberman and Warner to achieve a “sweet spot in legislation” so “we don’t cross the line.” She acknowledged she is in the minority among those who have particularly strong concerns about expanding nuclear production. “We’re never going to achieve the goals [in the bill] unless we have a lot more nuclear power in the United States,” said Lieberman. Warner also said the nuclear provision, along with other changes incorporated in a substitute bill that he, Lieberman and Boxer unveiled this week, could bring along more support for the overall measure. The substitute would give the president discretion to pull back on the bill’s emission reduction goals in the face of economic woes, inadequate technology or to address national security or other emergencies.

by Darren Goode

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