By Jan Holt, Durango

Congress must pass a strong science-based energy bill. But nuclear power plants can’t be built and brought online fast enough to alleviate climate change. Funding them is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. Instead, fund much cleaner, cheaper, faster-to-construct alternatives as micro-power such as solar, small hydro-power, co-generation of electricity and heat in buildings and - most effective - energy efficiency.

No nuclear plants have been ordered since 1977. No one wants to be liable for, insure or deal with toxic wastes. The
Energy Department estimates it will cost $90 billion to open and operate the nation’s first nuclear-waste dump, but no state wants the waste. Only massive taxpayer subsidies make nuclear power competitive.

Colorado already is a sacrifice area from uranium exploration, mining, milling and dumping, yet we have no one qualified to inspect, monitor or act on water, chemical or toxic pollution or illnesses. We have 3,000 abandoned, ignored uranium mines. Nationwide, there are about 14,000. Regulation of this industry is weak, protecting plant owners, not us. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not regulating. Taxpayers are not protected from financial risk if nuclear or advanced coal plants default on their loans. Let’s not waste money on a poor power choice.

Renewable Electricity standards from clean sources such as wind and solar are too low. Exemptions and loopholes undercut Colorado’s present standards. We need 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025, and a requirement that utilities payments made in lieu of meeting this standard be invested in renewable and efficiency projects.

Congress should scrap emissions offsets and cap-and-trade, which make polluting legal. Considering the seriousness and urgency of climate change, every company should be required to reduce its carbon emissions. Then auction pollution allowances to fund development of climate-friendly energy sources. Oversight and transparency for setting prices on carbon emissions also must be implemented. Emission-performance standards for new transmission facilities must be set to encourage clean production.

Miles-per-gallon requirements for cars and trucks should be raised again and acted upon swiftly.

All will fail if the Senate lets energy “special interests” win again in Washington.

Originally published in the Durango Herald, September 22, 2009