Dangerous waste
already stacking up on shores of Great Lakes;
ratepayers will be soaked with massive construction costs
The same day 200 wind industry leaders gather to talk about
investing in 21st century technology in Michigan, DTE Energy and the nuclear
industry are sponsoring talks by former environmentalists about the supposed economic
and environmental benefits of nuclear power.
This misleading attempt to claim environmental and economic benefits for
nuclear power appears to be part of DTE’s effort to fool Michigan
ratepayers into financing a costly new nuclear reactor at the Fermi plant near Monroe.
“Michigan
needs to look forward not backward to reinvent our economy and protect our
environment,” said Environment Michigan Director Mike Shriberg. “Nuclear power has already cost Michiganders
billions in ‘stranded costs.’ And it has put millions of citizens at risk by
providing terrorist targets and radioactive waste along the shores of our Great Lakes.
Instead, we should be investing in energy efficiency and renewable
energy.”
Patrick Moore – who is speaking in Monroe, Ann Arbor &
Grand Rapids today – identifies himself as a “Greenpeace founder”, although he
left Greenpeace over 20 years ago. He has worked against environmental
interests for the past 15 years. Next
week, Christine Todd Whitman will speak to the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Whitman was the first EPA Administrator under
the Bush Administration. Their
organization – the Clean & Safe Energy Coalition (CASE) – was formed by the
Nuclear Energy Institute.
“Greenpeace
is unwilling to leap from the global warming frying pan into the nuclear fire
because nuclear power won’t solve climate change,” said Greenpeace Nuclear
Policy Analyst Jim Riccio. “Every dollar
spent on efficiency & renewables like wind and solar goes 7 to 10 times
further in addressing global warming than a dollar spent on nuclear. If we are to abate the impacts of climate
change we need to bring resources to bear that are fast, inexpensive and efficient,
nuclear power is none of these.”
“People should be wary of those on the nuclear industry
payroll who are presenting themselves as committed environmentalists, rather
than industry spokesmen,” said Hugh McDiarmid, Jr, spokesman for the Michigan
Environmental Council. “No one should
mistake nuclear industry consultants for people who are truly concerned about
environmental and economic issues in our state.”
Moore
has a strong history of advocating for corporate clients at the expense of the
environment. “Patrick Moore: The case of the Greenpeace ‘co-founder’ and his
corporate clients,” prepared by the Environmental Health Fund, details how
Moore “frequently publishes opinion pieces attacking the environmental movement
and promoting nuclear power, toxic chemicals, logging and aquaculture.”
“We have proven clean solutions to our electricity needs
that reduce cost and risks for ratepayers, and they do not include nuclear
power,” said Anne Woiwode, Director of Sierra Club in Michigan.
“What we’re lacking is not tired rhetoric about nuclear power, but the
political will to implement clean energy solutions.”
“At a time when our state needs an honest conversation about
electricity options, DTE continues to push for nuclear power at all costs,”
said David Wright, Clean Energy Project Director for the Ecology Center. “While DTE may hope to maximize profits
through nuclear power, it is the wrong option for ratepayers and our
environment, despite what the nuclear industry’s consultants might say.”
