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Environmental Advocates Disappointed in Obama’s New Focus on Nuclear Power
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Many environmentalists have been feeling uneasy about President Barack Obama’s embrace of nuclear power as an alternative source of clean energy to fight climate change. There has been a lot of anxiety and disappointment amongst green advocates since Obama spoke at a job training center in Lanham, Maryland about funding the construction of nuclear power plants in the United States with more than $8 billion in Federal loans. Utilizing nuclear power plants will supposedly generate additional sources of clean and efficient energy to meet the growing needs of the future as they do not produce carbon emissions. Such emissions greatly contribute to the greenhouse gas build-up in the atmosphere.
Obama for Nuclear Energy
Obama’s recent speech for nuclear power seemed like a follow-up to his State of the Union address, where he discussed the possibilities of nuclear energy becoming a part of America’s new energy policy.
Green Advocates’ Criticisms
However, many critics have attacked Obama’s endorsement for nuclear energy, especially since it contradicts one of his original goals – elimination of nuclear weaponry. They pointed out that Obama has used his diplomatic prowess to negotiate with other countries possessing nuclear arms towards disarmament.
More importantly, environmentalists criticized this move because the administration is downplaying other greener technologies, including solar power and wind power, which are far less dangerous and less costly in the long run. They feel that the Obama administration is now falling short in its quest to fight climate change because Obama is investing in less ambitious clean energy measures.
Nuclear Power Plants are Risky Investments
According to the critics, the government is also putting its citizens in great peril because the use of nuclear power plants is potentially risky, both in terms of utilization and investment. Obama has stressed that the taxpayers’ money that will be used to fund nuclear reactors will be reimbursed to the citizens once the power plants are in full operation. However, environmentalists refuted that nuclear reactors have not been built for over three decades so investments in such projects will most likely default and be hit by delays.
