Obama budget exposes nuclear lie
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama purported to reach across the aisle by endorsing a “new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants”…before pushing cap and trade.
The nearly $4 trillion budget he released today exposes his nuclear lie.
It zeroes out funds for the besieged Yucca Mountain nuclear storage facility in Nevada — one of the few, prominent Obama campaign pledges that he looks like he’s actually fulfilling:
President Barack Obama will propose eliminating funding for the Yucca Mountain project in a new budget he will submit to Congress on Monday, according to Nevada lawmakers who were notified over the weekend.
The White House also said it will take steps “in the near future” to withdraw a pending license application to build the long-planned nuclear waste repository, which could be a decisive move in ending the government’s 23-year focus on developing the Nevada site for radioactive waste storage and disposal.
Coupled with the formation Friday of a blue ribbon commission to study nuclear waste management, officials said the budget will underscore Obama’s “commitment to pursuing a responsible, long-term strategy” for handling waste generated by nuclear utilities and government defense agencies.
The plan also would fulfill an Obama campaign promise to end the Yucca Mountain program, which has been unpopular with many Nevadans and the state’s top leaders.
“This is great news,” said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who has consulted with Obama on an exit strategy for Yucca Mountain.
“President Obama is keeping his word to Nevada and I thank him for working with me as we try to find a safer solution for dealing with the nation’s nuclear waste,” Reid said in a statement.
“This budget is a bulldozer that will help Nevada flatten Yucca Mountain into a permanent pile of rubble,” said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu and eco-czar Carol Browner are also dancing on Yucca’s grave — and will oversee a toothless new panel to come up with something better. Paralysis by analysis. As Brian Sussman points out, we already had an alternative:
Following the State of the Union, in a conference call with reporters on the same day the nuclear financing plan was unveiled, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the creation of a special panel to find a solution for storing nuclear waste.
Problem is, we had a solution — Yucca Mountain. But it’s on the president’s no-fund list.
The Obama Fail blog draws parallels to the Gitmo debacle:
In his first week in office, President Obama signed an executive order promising to close Guantanamo Bay within one year. It hasn’t happened and there is no indication it will happen anytime soon. Here’s how it breaks down:
1. Make a bold announcement
2. Do nothing
3. Blame someone else when #1 fails to happenThis is exactly what is happening with nuclear energy. Americans are supposed to feel some sort of pride that “we can do better”…Furthermore, we will figure out exactly where to store spent nuclear material, even though there are no options presently on the table. But we are Americans so you just have to believe that it will be sorted out. And when it is all finally sorted out, then President Obama can get around to building all those new power plants.
Ain’t. Gonna. Happen.
***
The budget includes loan guarantees of more than $54 billion for nuclear energy firms — but the feds haven’t approved a new application for a reactor in more than two decades.
False hope, chump change.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
Reminder: Global Warming Still Going to Cause Chocolate Shortage
February 11, 2012 02:31 PM by Doug Powers
17 Comments
Nancy Pelosi Explains Why Obama Flip-Flopped on Super PACs
February 9, 2012 10:08 PM by Doug Powers
50 Comments
Report: Solyndra Sold Assets Cheap to Entity with Close Ties to Investors
February 9, 2012 10:08 AM by Doug Powers
49 CommentsFormer Democrat Rep. Regrets Vote for Obamacare Due to Contraceptive Coverage
February 7, 2012 03:40 PM by Doug Powers
75 Comments
Middle Class Payroll Tax Cut Extension Comes Courtesy of Mortgage Fees on Home Buyers
February 6, 2012 01:36 PM by Doug Powers
35 CommentsConcrete Evidence Man is Causing Glacier Retreat
February 2, 2012 03:07 PM by Doug Powers
68 Comments
Hiring Spree in NYC
February 1, 2012 02:47 PM by Doug Powers
43 CommentsMr. and Mrs. Cranky Pants
January 27, 2012 10:35 AM by Michelle Malkin
138 CommentsStimulus-Backed ‘Green’ Bankruptcy of the Week: Ener1
January 26, 2012 03:06 PM by Doug Powers
67 Comments
Categories: Barack Obama,Enviro-nitwits,Harry Reid
Patterico
» Rick Santorum and the two playbooksPundit & Pundette
» King Barack vs. the NonconformistsJustOneMinute
» Cat Blogging In A Harsh New LightNRO
» The Church of Obama
Just a payback to Harry for all his healthcare work. Also doubles for left appeasement. Winners: Barack, Harry, Iran, and the hard left. Losers: The American people.
The Louisiana purchase, the Cornhusker kickback, and the Vegas payoff.
corkie, thanks for taking on that zz guy. I read the posts and it wore me out!
zyzzyg
Seriously, thanks for dissecting in #98,99.
Just because you state in your #45? that nothing needs to be clarified, doesn’t make it so. To nix Yucca and then say there will be loan guarantees proposed for other facilities doesn’t mean new facilities will ‘happen’.
The Georgia site you directed us to was informative but then again I became disappointed to be reminded of the NRC.
My earlier round and round comment was in frustration of not knowing if the administration will truly support nuclear energy.
Detail could include a directive to the NRC or DOE to make it happen rather than just saying they need to have a panel to discuss disposal.
I see things pretty simply (as you can tell) but I’d like to believe we’re on the right path and even though you are informed and articulate, you can’t convince me we are. It’s the president’s job to do that.
Did you miss the following from the excerpt MM posted?
The plan also would fulfill an Obama campaign promise to end the Yucca Mountain program, which has been unpopular with many Nevadans and the state’s top leaders.
When you fulfill a campaign promise, it is not lying. When you do not fulfill a campaign promise, that is lying.
Pres Obama said he would end the Yucca Mountain program, he is not funding it, fundamentally ending the program. Where is the lie?
He lied by stating that he supported efforts for expanded nuclear power capacity. He doesn’t, and his Yucca is decision makes that sufficiently clear.
And…that’s not diffcult to understand.
No need, believe me.
There is’nt much, if anything valid to add.
Socialists and America-haters have handcuffed, hobbled, and virtually killed the nuclear power industry in our nation.
Sorry, no time for a footnoted documentary evidentiary argument.
But, I remember the animals protesting against Seabrook in N.H. in 1976.
I remember the much ado about 3-mile island in 1979.
I remember reading how no new nuclear power plants had been built in the U.S. for the past 20 years…for the past 25 years…for the past 30 years….
And, as far as I can tell, it is the same socialists/fascists/America-haters hobbling the nuclear power industry who are preventing the drilling for, and use of, domestic or near-offshore U.S. reserves.
Discussion here does nothing to help that theatening situation.
And as for as your “pity”…, I will take the high road, and not use one of my late (NYC-raised) father’s expressions: “Aw, go blow it out your @$$!”.
No worries.
I agree, merely because there are loan gaurantees does not mean new facilities will happen.
There is power in knowledge and the more you have the more powerful you become. Adding to the discussion with substance, information and facts is far more helpful than calling them names.
Yeah, sometimes I am disappointed by Government agencies, too.
I am a literal person and go with what is said, . . . and done. The budget provides funding for one element necessary to move nuclear power forward. To me that demonstrates support for nuclear power.
The budget eliminates funding for another element of nuclear power. If there weren’t existing alternatives or if there were no recognition that we still need a plan to deal with waste, then this budget deletion would be a true demonstration for not supporting nuclear power.
Obviously, Pres Obama does not support Yucca Mountain, and it is not clear what he wants to do to replace it, other than create a new plan. Yep, he is kicking the can down the road.
Hopefully, the plan will come soon. When it does, it will no doubt cost us more money. Probably more money than has been spent on Yucca to date. Good grief, how silly would it be should the plan say, ‘bury it under a mountain in New Mexico’.
I live in MD, and would not mind having the waste here, as long as it is handled properly.
Unfortunately, that is not how things happen. Implementing a plan before knowing what it is, is less than wise. At this point all that can be done is recognize that something needs to be done to replace Yucca Mountain and create a plan on what to do. And then do it.
Sometimes it is best to see things simply. It is best not to read too deeply into something that was not said. Yep, it is best not to assume. Yeah, ask questions, but avoid making unsubstantiated assertions. We are also best served by not drawing conclusions based on dots that have no direct connection.
Please know that I have the greatest respect for you. Why? Because we engaged in dialogue, exchanged views, and shared our opinions with a minimal level of animus.
I will always strive to be direct with you and address your comments, questions and concerns. [Meaning I may miss one of your posts and not respond. I will never intentionally ignore you, as I do for only one other person on this blog.]
As for being on the right path, I would like to see more funding for nuclear power. Eventhough the funding is small I am not prepared to dismiss it, because that funding is still on the path that we should be on.
When it makes absoultely no sense, it is difficult to understand.
Pres Obama made a campaign promise to shut down Yucca. He’s keeping it. Read the excerpt provided by MM. No lie there.
Pres Obama says he supports nuclear power and is providing funding to do so. Not a whole heck of alot of money, but still no lie.
Supporting one element of nuclear power and not another, is also not a lie.
Still waiting to hear what the lie is.
We should ask MM to set up a special forum and quarantine all of “wiggy ziggy’s” and corkie’s posts there to save us a great deal of headache!
All for it? Send our host an email!
Ha ha. As if what you would and would not mind is relevant at all.
Actually, that’s exactly how things happen. It’s called executive power.
Everyone knows what the Yucca plan is. Nothing unwise about it.
Not true. Obama could simply proceed with Yucca. It’s not too late for him to change his mind.
Though it was enough to get you to contribute to the discussion vice taking the messenger to task.
I would call them environmentalist wackos, who are misguided and lack the specific knowledge to reach the correct decision on nuclear energy.
There are somethings that do not require all that you suggest.
Yep, me too.
Far more appropriate to call them environmentalist wackos. Pretty sure there are nuclear power plants in Europe where there is far more socialism.
Yeah, who was it that stopped off-shore drilling in Florida waters? Please tell me that you aren’t one of those blame Bush types.
Hmmmm, couldn’t that be said about any discussion on this blog?
Again, my saying that I had pity for you got you to a least share some of veiws on the subject.
Listen, it is all good. I’ll accept your ‘blow it out’, and I’ll raise you an ‘ba fongul’. Yep, though I live in MD, I am from the Bronx.
It makes perfect sense and is very easy to understand.
Obama lied by stating that he supported efforts for expanded nuclear power capacity. He doesn’t.
It’s like telling your children that you support them borrowing the family car, then removing the engine before giving them the keys. You lied.
The fact that you gave them the keys doesn’t change the fact that you lied.
Telling them that they merely need to find an alternative power source for the car doesn’t change the fact that you lied.
Establishing a task force to explore alternatives power sources for the car doesn’t change the fact that you lied.
Offering to go-sign a loan for a new engine doesn’t change the fact that you lied.
Do not claim again that you haven’t heard exactly what the lie is.
That hurts my eyes to read that. You’re not even close.
The second word will at least get you close, but for goodness sake, use va instead of ba.
I kinda was thinking that too. But that’s just me … I still hope there’s a cowboy in every president. (Most) chicks dig em.
If Obama wasn’t lying about his support for nuclear power he would support Yucca Mountain, which would get nuclear power moving forward now. Instead, he’s punted it down the road at the very least until his remaining 3 years are up.
“I was against nuclear power before I was for it, and now that it ain’t gonna happen, I’m for it.”
Why spend years and more billions of dollars to “study”, and maybe even construct an alternate to Yucca Mountain, only to find that someone objects to the new solution….and that nothing was wrong with the old one…except politics?
I’d like to see some fresh polls on what Americans think of nuclear power.
Oh and zyzzyg …
Good Xchange!
It is pretty difficult to claim you are for nuclear power but opposed to the only serious plan to store nuclear waste. It is impossible to build nuclear power plants if you don’t have a place to store the spent reactor rods and other “hot” materials that result directly from nuclear fission.
That is like saying you are for venison but oppose dear hunting.
Of course, Obama lied. He is desperately trying to destroy our standard of living and reduce us to serfs dependent on the all-powerful and beneficent central government for our sustenance.
“A government big enough to supply you with everything you need, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have….”
Here is the quote from the state of the union address:
“But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country.”
So in order to create jobs RIGHT NOW we need to build nuclear plants. But ending Yucca ends the ability to build plants. You call it what you want. Dance around the issue. We aren’t going to generate real jobs in the private nuclear energy sector by pretending closing Yucca creates the need for nuclear plants. He’s going back on a statement he backed 5 days ago Not technically a lie, but just as bad.
The practical VOLUME of waste from a plant in a year is in fact much much larger than a shoebox. You are quoting a volume based on the sum total of the theoretical mass of remaining radioactive material, which can not be stored together. The pools aren’t designed for endless increases in rods. Some plants may have to shut down because of a lack of storage space, ending nuclear green jobs.
There ARE NO practical alternatives to long term storage and that means Yucca Mt. Panels of experts decided that was the best solution years ago. Scientists and engineers have been trying to find a better solution for decades with no real solution. Wishful thinking and fantasies are not going to change that but apparently you are hell bent to pretend otherwise.
Obama certainly hasn’t avoided the use of executive power. Look at the order he gave EPA with respect to CO2 (unlike the CO2 is pollution order).
At least the order to proceed with Yucca would have been based on real science.
The order to proceed with Yucca would have also sent a very strong signal to all parties involved that he truly did support nuc power. Such a signal would have helped the momentum.
Instead, he did the opposite by proving that he really doesn’t support nuc power.
Yes, that is from the SOTU.
OK, I agree. Building nuclear plants will create jobs.
No it does isn’t. Did you read what MM posted? There will be a study to find an alternative to Yucca Mountain. When an alternative is found, hopefully it will work and be used.
Not technically a lie? So, he did not lie. Thank you for finally admitting it.
Closing Yucca and new nuclear power plants are not dots that can not be connected. Yucca was to be used for existing waste from existing plants.
You did not read the links provided by MM, did you? Click on the Brian Sussman link MM provided.
“. . . which cannot be stored together . . .” are you kidding me? What do you think would have happened at Yucca Mountain? All the waste will be stored together.
Build whatever you need to store the rods on site until there is a place to take them. I suppose building a new storage facility will create a few jobs.
This is true since Pres Obama has closed off that option. Once the study is complete there will be a new long term storage answer.
Yep, that is true. And, now another group of scientists will find another option. And yes, it will be ridiculous when they say the best option will be a mountain in New Mexico.
Where did you get the idea that I was wishful thinking and having fantasies. I referenced what MM posted. There is going to be a study because Yucca Mountain is no longer an option.
The best solution for nuclear waste is in underground government subsidized storage. No matter what the new study reveals it will be the same, however the site will most likely be different.
Pres Obama is not lying, but yes he is kicking the can down the road. Because, he does not support one element of nuclear power, does not mean he is against all nuclear power.
Do you support nuclear power? Would you support a nuclear power plant in the center of NYC? Does it make any kind of sense to say since a person does not support a nuclear power plant in mid-town Manhattan, then they are against nuclear power? Yucca Mountain is just one element of the nuclear equation.
Who are you quoting? Or, are you making things up trying to be funny?
Yep, won’t it be silly to discover that the new study will say bury it underground in a mountain in New Mexico, or Arizona, or Colorado.
Yep, Yucca is a good well studied real option. But, still there is no lie.
And when we figure out how to turn windmills invisible, hopefully we can put them up and down the coast. Obama is pro-invisible Wind! Same fantasy.
This proves you really don’t understand the issue. Radioactive components can not be stored together without a matrix. The “shoebox” volume YOU referenced is without a matrix. If you understood the issues, you would know that and understand my statement.
Dishonesty about a position is still dishonesty where you want to call it a lie or not. It’s not transparent or honest to claim to be for nuclear, but then kill the key solution that most scientists agree is the best.
You don’t really care about the issues anyway, do you? You only care about politics and winning some stupid semantics argument. Here’s to invisible WIND!
zzzyzzzyg
You really need this:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z92/69malibu3speed/decoderring.jpg
Let’s see. The government started studying Yucca Mountain in 1978. It is now 2010 and there is still no alternative. 32 years to go nowhere. This is pretty good by government standards.
If the government rushes through another study that means by 2040 or so we will be able to not establish another nuclear waste storage facility in one more location…
Obama no more wants us to enjoy nuclear energy than he’d want a watermelon shortage.
Uh, maybe I’m wrong but, wasn’t it a Blue Ribbon bunch of hacks that decided the long-term strategy was Yucca Mtn?
So you admit he lied when he promised to close Gitmo in a year?
So now Obama is the authority on waste management? This conjures up ALL SORTS of images…
So much for scientific consensus.
Obama has been called a lot of things, and top of the list is community organizer. Well, he’s not even very good at that…maybe a second rate secretary for the community organizer. If anything, he’s a first rate sock puppet for the hard core left that calls up the batphone whenever he makes a statement they don’t agree with.
Obama is a fraud.
Yes he is. Someone that supports efforts to spur the addition of nuclear power capacity would not be kicking the can down the road. His kicking the can down the road is evidence that he lied.
Wrong. It’s like claiming to support capital punishment but rejecting, without a good reason, execution methods which took 30 years to develop/study.
The fact that he doesn’t have a good reason for rejecting Yucca is evidence that it’s being done to obstruct nuclear power expansion.
The fact that he reneges on everything is evidence that what he says publicly gets him in hot water with his wacky base. Now we know why he said during the primaries that he would miss his blackberry if he became president…TOTUS is not realtime.
Your analysis was spot on.
Yep,
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z92/69malibu3speed/Kenyabirthplace.jpg
Obama has no problem building Nuke plants, he just won’t allow fuel on site to run them without Yucca Mt. Waste management available. We already spent tons of Billions of Dollars on Yucca Mt. Only to have Harry Reid shut it down just like the coal burners that have come to various stages of completion only to have them shut down by lawsuits initiated by his Son. Nevada taxpayers have been screwed by the Reid consortium for years. The ostensive purpose of canceling plants scheduled for the Eastern regions of the State was water usage. Seems Clark county needs the water. Seems Harry has a large interest in Photvoltaic power as well. He recently flipped the switch on a new facility in LV. I am sure he has no financial interest in the outcome….kinda like having BLM sections adjacent to the city getting a favorable zoning change for a strip mall…Son on the zoning board….let me see, kinda reminds me of a cartoon, the farmer, seeing his favorite sheep dog hanging around with the wolves drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, hmm, the missing beer, the missing sheep, the missing cigarettes…..suddenly things became a little clearer
It is hard to come up with a “good reason” to explain WHY We the People are being deprived of energy? We could easily have abundant cheep energy but It sure seems that our government is going out of its way to make sure that, that NEVER happens. It seems at least somewhat likely that we are deliberately rushing into massive debt…just so we will be in debt? It is self evident that we are being lied to in this regard….we must become a poor nation to save the planet? What can we expect from those who boldly?, bravely? lie about darn near everything?
Actually, Obama DOES have a problem with building nuclear plants. The LIE, zyyzzyg, is that he is pretending to support nuclear power but will be using this sort of statement as an out… “Oh shucks, we got no place to put the waste now…. Sorry, no nuke power.”
That’s like telling your kid.. “Sure, you can drive a new BMW… as soon as you save enough of your paper route money to pay for one, I’ll take you right down to the dealer to buy your new Z3 convertible.”
A lie
And as our host pointed out, this is simply more of that same crap. They had the solution. There is no other place to safely store the waste.
Obama is against nuke power but he is too much of a spineless coward to admit it publicly.
Obama’s house in Chicago is empty now. Why don’t we store the nuclear waste there?
Hmmm.
Tens of billions spent in Harry’s state. Looks like Harry brought home the bacon.
Yucca Mountain shuttered. Looks like Harry’s helping the environmentalists.
Win-win for Harry, eh?
The Iranians want a nuclear program. Can’t ship the waste to them?
If I didn’t read the article, then how did I drink the Kool-Aid? You either seldom read MM’s articles before commenting, or are just too disingenuous a commenter with whom to even attempt to engage in an open debate.
And I referenced what he said there and at subsequent pressers, as his entire stance on energy.
Thanks for the poli-sci lesson but when I feel the need for one, I’ll ask. Apparently I should have been clearer as you obviously have no ability to infer and apply inductive reasoning: I was referencing a presser he gave several days ago that involved the topic of energy, not only the State of the Union Address; and FYI, I’ve watched these addresses since Nixon so spare me the “you’re uninformed” mambo, because judging by some of your past posts, I can’t be sure you’re even a naturalized American.
Off topic, but somewhat related…The end of space exploration and going to the moon. Billions of dollars in contracts will be violated by ending these programs and guess who will pay all that, plus fines? We The People. Again. Also, closing Gitmo that is a perfect place to keep our enemies and try them…the cost to build it was enormous. Obama doesn’t care. He wants it to go to waste and then spend billions on other facilities. Yucca costs billions…and now we can’t use it. See a pattern here? If anyone doubts that these Statists are deliberately bankrupting our country, what will it take to convince you?
Hahahahahah! Look who’s talking – MM.com’s own Mr. Richard Fedor wannabe! (Older SNL fans will get it.)
It can’t be demonstrated because none of the governors can be sure of where he stands on energy – especially nuclear power!
Not a “good one” – just a safe guess made by someone who apparently cannot name one governor willing to put his/her rep on the line in support of Obama’s new-found admiration for nuclear power –
But didn’t Obama himself say that we need to look at all sources of energy? What’s wrong with bringing coal into the discussion about nuclear power, and hashing out all of the administration ever-shifting stands on using America’s bounty of natural resources to achieve energy independence – hmmm?
Better question: What is his unvarnished truth about this issue – and can we believe him?
How would you like it, if someone decided to put a level 4, bio-lab, 60 miles from your house?
Even though I have absolutely no benefits from nuclear power, you want to make my house, and my state, your spittoon.
It’s okay in my drinking water, just not yours? And go ahead, tell me the science is settled.
The French have been reprocessing for years. It’s just expensive.
Note the real lie here is that REID and Berkley will take credit for it in Nevada to get re-elected.
Make no mistake, I still remember the post from the woman in New Jersey said “Why are we still discussing this? Why don’t we just ship it out west, where it belongs.”
Well, I have I counter proposal. You can turn my back yard into a NATIONAL DUMPING GROUND, no problem – I’m not a greenie.
How ’bout this…
“No citizen from Nevada ever pays another dime in income taxes, or another power bill, forever! Better than that, every citizen of Nevada gets Alaska paid for the use, on top of the taxes and power bill and free cancer treatments, and legal fees.” – And I’ll help dig the hole.
Otherwise, dig your hole in the Arctic, (oh noes – the polar bears!), or the Antarctic (oh noes – the penguins!) or in your own backyard, (oh noes not a citizen from New Jersey!).
We don’t even HAVE a reactor. We don’t even get any power from the U.S. owned Hoover dam, that all goes to L.A.
Well, let’s cover it all with windmills and solar cells.
Do you all realize just how many guns are in Nevada? Do you know it’s still legal to strap one on your hip, and walk right-straight down the strip?
From the sounds of things here, I should go ahead and vote for Reid and the rest.
Still want to bury it here?
No problem with the waste dump at Yucca Mountain, and, the entire nation benefits from nuclear power…….that even includes you.
There is a nuclear power plant about six miles from my house, I worked there for thirty years and retired ten years ago. It’s the least of my worries.
Yucca Mountain was picked because it is basically in the middle of nowhere and a logical place for long-term storage. There is no better place to store the waste…and billions have been spent on it already. If I lived in Nevada I would be saying, “YES” to more nuclear energy and to storing the waste where the federal government promised the untility compaines it would be stored and dumped bilions into Nevada’s economy. which was apparently OK right up to the point of actually using using it.
I think maybe you have watched The China Syndrome too many times.