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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.”

Read more about Nuclear Power in Emerging Markets

Read more about Nuclear Power in Emerging Markets

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Russia is set to assist his country in developing nuclear energy; something which is raising eyebrows in the U.S. as an increasingly close relationship develops between Moscow and Caracas.

Chavez stated that he received and accepted an officer from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to assist Venezuela in building a nuclear reactor.

“Russia is ready to support Venezuela in the development of nuclear energy with peaceful purposes and we already have a commission working on it,” Chavez said. “We are interested in developing nuclear energy.”

The offer of Russian assistance came in a meeting last week in Novo-Ogaryovo. Putin offered no specifics as to the assistance offered to Venezuela, but it fits with the pattern of Russia establishing itself as a provider of nuclear power plants to developing countries. 

Since last month’s war with Georgia, Russia has increased cooperation with Venezuela, further damaging the nation’s relations with western nations, especially the U.S.

A Russian naval squadron has set sail for the Caribbean to prepare for joint naval exercises -planned for later this year, a move which could not help but appear like saber rattling following the deployment of U.S. warships to deliver aid to Georgia.

This represents the largest naval deployment by Russia in the Caribbean since the cold war.

Chavez states that Venezuela’s stronger ties with Russia will help to establish a multi-polar world; something both nations state as an objective - both nations are opposed to what they see as global domination by the United States.

Venezuela has purchased or agreed to purchase over $4.4 billion in weaponry from Russia, including firearms, helicopters and fighter jets. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has also offered Venezuela a loan to buy additional military equipment.

Chavez argues that developing nations have a right to develop nuclear technology and has been a staunch supporter of Tehran’s nuclear program, despite widespread fear that the Iranian government may be working towards building nuclear weapons.

Chavez had already expressed interest in buying a nuclear reactor from Argentina and  working with countries including Iran to research and develop nuclear energy before accepting Russia’s offer.

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Read more about Major U.S. Nuclear Power Plants: Profiles and Market Analysis
If state governors sanction the company’s 2009 fuel-cost projections, clean-air expenses, nuclear pre-construction costs and other elements, the residential monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) would increase $34.27 (31 percent) over present-day charges of $110.59 to $144.86 starting in January 2009.

Approximately $21.12 of the increase is for projected fuel costs in 2009 (including under-recovered amounts from this year); $11.42 is for new nuclear-plant construction; and $2.50 is for environmental projects, including the installation of the latest clean-air technology at the company’s coal-fired power plants.

The company’s long-run scheme to invest in carbon-free nuclear power will step-up fuel variety, decrease dependence on fossil fuels and help avoid fuel-cost increases like this in the future. When new nuclear reactors are in commission, they will generate an estimated savings of more than $1 billion yearly for buyers.

Approximated cost hikes for the company’s two planned nuclear reactors in Levy County, Fla. are largely due to payment for critical equipment necessary for their building. Progress Energy Florida took the initiative to secure in advance several pieces of high-demand equipment needed to build the reactors. Securing and paying for these items now ensure they will be accessible when needed during the building process and will finally lower the total cost of the project for customers.

The $17-billion gross cost of the Levy nuclear project, including $3 billion for related transmission facilities, has not changed since it was announced earlier this year. Dialogues continue between Progress Energy Florida and other utilities for joint possession of the reactors, which would also decrease costs for customers. If joint-ownership agreements are reached, the company will update its cost estimates.

The company has also expanded its back up of the Energy Neighbor Fund to provide assistance to customers who are fighting to pay their electric car bills. Employees and customers have given generously to this fund for years to help neighbors in need. Progress Energy doubled its corporate contribution to $1 million in 2008.

The company filed its 2009 projections for fuel and other disbursements with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) recently. The PSC has scheduled hearings in September to review nuclear costs and separate hearings in November to review the company’s projected fuel, environmental and energy-efficiency expenses.
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Barack Obama recently met with oil tycoon turned alternative energy advocate T. Boone Pickens, who funded devastating attacks on 2004 Democratic White House pick John Kerry.

Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr. is an American business man who chairs the hedge fund BP Capital Management. He was a well-known takeover operator during the 1980s. With an estimated current net worth of about $3 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 117th-richest person in America and ranked 369th in the world. Pickens has given more than $700 million away to charity.

Pickens has begun speaking out on the issue of peak oil, claiming that world oil production is about to enter a period of irrevocable decline. He has called for the construction of more nuclear power plants, the use of natural gas to power the country’s transportation systems, and the promotion of alternative energy. Pickens’ involvement with the natural gas fueling campaign is long-running. He formed Pickens Fuel Corp. in 1997 and began touting natural gas as the best vehicular fuel alternative because it’s a domestic resource that, among many advantages, is clean (Natural Gas Vehicles or NGVs emit up to 30% less pollution than gasoline or diesel vehicles) and reduces foreign oil consumption. Reincorporated as Clean Energy in 2001, the company now owns and operates natural gas fueling stations from British Columbia to the Mexican border.

The current Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama also declared that Pickens has a lot longer track record than that, when asked about how it felt to be meeting the man who “swiftboated” Kerry’s campaign, as the two headed into a brief tete-a-tete at a resort hotel in Reno, Nevada.

According to Obama, Pickens is a legendary entrepreneur and his stand on energy issues is something not to be taken lightly. Obama further clarified that one the things he thought it was necessary to unify the United States around was having an intelligent energy policy.

Pickens in 2004 donated millions to a shadowy group of Vietnam War veterans calling themselves “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” who ran ads questioning Kerry’s honesty and his record in Vietnam, where he was wounded three times and awarded the Silver and Bronze Stars for valor.

The former Texas oilman has since launched a “Pickens Plan” to wean the United States off its dependence on foreign oil, investing in wind farms and stumping for alternative energy at the US Congress in Washington.

In June 2007, Pickens announced the intention to build the world’s largest wind farm by installing large wind turbines in parts of four Texas Panhandle counties. The project would produce up to four gigawatts of electricity. Pickens’ Mesa Power LP will undertake the construction. If completed, the farm would generate more than five times the 735 megawatts produced at the present largest such farm near Abilene.

“Everybody knows that if we keep on going on the same track that we’re going, that we are giving our wealth away, we’re funding both sides in the war on terror,” the Illinois senator said.

Obama further stressed that over the longer term, the United States government was simply going to be putting enormous pressure on ordinary families in America who are simply not going to be able to afford skyrocketing gasoline prices and home heating prices. Therefore, it is very necessary that the country is unified around the issues of energy.

Pickens did not speak to reporters, but reportedly smiled awkwardly as Obama was asked about his activities during the 2004 campaign.

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