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John Holdren writes Obama approved $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees and supports funding for Generation IV advanced nuclear energy R&D
Readers of this blog will recall that John Shanahan, a Denver-based civil engineer who has worked on numerous nuclear power plant projects, wrote a letter Feb 1 to President Obama's Science Advisor John Holdren (right) about the administration’s support for nuclear energy.
Over 300 people world-wide signed on to support the letter. Holdren has now replied to Shanahan. The letter, (PDF format) is short (two pages), but basically positive.
It states a few things that are obvious to many, but the most important thing is that it is positive and the reply came quickly.
U.S must get back in the global nuclear energy game
The emerging difference with President Obama is that his administration is recognizing reality and supporting nuclear energy. The rest of the world is building new reactors.
The U.S. needs to catch up for national security reasons and to support exports of American technology. Other nations will not take the President’s call for an international fuel bank seriously unless we are in the business of supplying that fuel and reactors to burn it.
While the Holdren letter doesn't say so, it is in our country's best interests to be a leader in the global nuclear energy industry. American jobs at home building components for these plants will depend on it.
Holdren's letter represents progress. Hopefully, there will be more of it.
Video extra – John Holdren in Q&A session at AAAS Annual Meeting April 2009
Lots of questions on climate change, economy, and the environment. Good answers.
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