Obama McCain Differ on Nuclear Power
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Unlike what Democrats may believe, there is a lot more to John McCain’s energy program than only drilling for oil. And unlike what McCain has been alleging on the campaign trail, where he projects the construction of 45 nuclear plants by 2030, Barack Obama does not “oppose the use of nuclear power.”
Both men support nuclear energy, although to differing degrees, as part of their scheme to wean the United States from its addiction on foreign oil.
While McCain includes the building of atomic reactors among his preferred options to obtain more energy, Obama assigns a higher priority to developing renewable sources like solar, wind and biofuels and increasing efficiency in the consumption of existing sources.
According to Obama, nuclear power should be in the mix when it comes to energy. However, he is quick to add that he does not think that it is the optimal source of energy, because the US still has to figure out how to store the waste safely or recycle the waste. Meanwhile, on his campaign website, McCain believes that “nuclear power is a proven, zero-emission source of energy, and it is time we recommit” to expanding its use. He further argues that it is critical that the U.S. be able to build the components for these plants and reactors within our own country so that we are not dependent on foreign suppliers with long wait times. Because nuclear energy is virtually carbon neutral, some environmentalists who opposed its use are more open to it.
Elgie Holstein, an adviser to Obama on energy issues, charged the McCain campaign of misrepresenting Obama’s position on nuclear power.
“Some specific proposals that Sen. McCain has made are troubling,” Holstein said, because of the problems of storage and reprocessing, and the issue of non-proliferation of nuclear fuel.
Obama is from Illinois, which has more nuclear reactors than any other state, and during the Democratic primary season drew fire from rivals for donations he had received from the company that operates those reactors.
In his acceptation speech in Denver, Obama vowed that as president would “find ways to safely harness nuclear power.”
McCain reiterated his support for nuclear power in the first two presidential argumentations, and criticized Obama.
On the campaign trail, McCain has repeatedly cited France as a model for the evolution of nuclear power in the United States.
In France, 59 atomic power plants generate nearly 80 percent of the country’s electricity, helping to reduce carbon emissions and producing a surplus that has made France one of the largest net electricity exporters in the world.
In France, the government controls both the building of nuclear power plants and the generation and distribution of electricity.
In campaign speeches, McCain also estimates that his program to build nuclear reactors would “provide 700,000 jobs for American workers.”
In large part because of safety concerns, the two candidates disagree on whether the federal government should build a nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev., about 90 miles north of Las Vegas.
McCain favors the proposal. Obama opposes it, arguing that a better solution is to continue to store nuclear waste at the reactors “until we find a safe, long-term disposal solution that is based on sound science.”
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