McCain Promotes Nuclear Power

Visit To Power Plant In Michigan Highlights Promise And Peril Of Nuclear Technology

(AP)  John McCain's visit to a nuclear power plant, the first in recent history by a presidential candidate, highlights the promise and peril of a technology that is a key component of his sweeping plan to help the country overcome its energy crisis.

The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Plant outside Detroit, named for the first physicist to split the atom, is home to both an operating power plant and another reactor that had a partial meltdown in the 1960s. It was decommissioned in 1972, while its successor continues to operate.

McCain is placing great stock in modern-day nuclear technology by calling for the construction of 45 nuclear power plants by 2030. The Republican argues that its carbon-free power generation is necessary to reduce the country's reliance on oil imports. He says exposing its expanded use, as Democratic rival Barack Obama has suggested, shows naiveté.

"I am going to lead our nation to energy independence, and I'm going to do it with a realistic and comprehensive 'all-of-the-above' approach that uses every resource available to finally solve this crisis," the Arizona senator said Monday.

To buttress the point, McCain regularly cites the example of France, which gets about 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear sources. He also highlights the U.S. Navy, in which he served as a fighter pilot and which he boasts has safely operated nuclear power plants in aircraft carriers and submarines without an accident in 60 years.

Yet events have undercut that message, as well.

Last week, the Navy announced that one of its nuclear-powered submarines, the USS Houston, had leaked minimally radioactive water earlier this year. An investigation showed water may have been slowly leaking from the valve since March as the Los Angeles-class submarine traveled around the Pacific.

The total amount of radioactivity released into the environment at each stop was less than one-half a microcurie, equivalent to the radioactivity of a 50-pound bag of fertilizer, but it threatened to damage relations with Japan, where the presence of U.S. nuclear vessels has long been controversial.

McCain is trumpeting his energy proposals throughout this week as anxious Americans grow increasingly frustrated by record-high gasoline prices.

Besides expanded nuclear power generation, the senator has proposed expanded drilling off the U.S. coast and a $300 million prize for developing a revolutionary automobile battery.

Obama has described nuclear power as "not optimal" and labeled himself "not a nuclear energy proponent." But he has said he would not rule out more nuclear power "only so far as it is clean and safe."

In recent days, Obama has made two significant reversals as he added to his own energy policy by outlining a plan to end U.S. reliance on foreign oil within 10 years. He said he could support limited new offshore drilling as part of a compromise to develop alternate energy sources, and he proposed tapping some of the nation's emergency oil stockpile to relieve pump prices.

"Breaking our oil addiction is one of the greatest challenges our generation will ever face," the Illinois senator said.

Meanwhile, McCain emphasized his independent streak and reformer credentials in a new TV commercial Tuesday as he sought to counter Democratic charges that he's the same as President Bush. (Read more about and watch the ad)

"Washington's broken. John McCain knows it. We're worse off than we were four years ago," says the ad. "He's the original maverick."

Although the commercial, set to run in battleground states, does not mention Democratic rival Barack Obama, it suggests the first-term Illinois senator is unprepared to be president by saying McCain is the one "ready to lead."

It also tries to seize Obama's message of change and cast McCain, a four-term Arizona senator, as a change agent at a time the public is craving a direction different from the status quo.

"Only McCain has taken on big tobacco, drug companies, fought corruption in both parties," the ad says. "He'll reform Wall Street, battle big oil, make America prosper again."

It does not mention areas where McCain and Bush agree, like tax cuts, the Iraq war and free-market economics, a point the Obama campaign highlighted in its response to the ad.

"Being a maverick isn't practicing the same kind of politics we have seen from Washington for decades," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton, "it isn't having a campaign run by Washington lobbyists, and it's certainly not promoting the same policies that have led America down the wrong path these past eight years."

McCain yielded no ground Monday night as he addressed thousands of motorcyclists at the nearby Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, S.D.

"My opponent doesn't want to drill. He doesn't want nuclear power. He wants you to inflate your tires," McCain said of Obama, who last week endorsed that fuel-saving tip recommended by nearly all energy experts.

The senator also criticized his colleagues in Congress for adjourning for a five-week recess without approving a new energy plan.

"Tell 'em to come back and get to work," McCain said, yelling into the microphone. "When I'm president of the United States, I'm not going to let them go on vacation. They're gonna become energy independent."

McCain's own voting record on energy issues has been questioned as well.

In 2007, McCain missed all 11 energy-related Senate votes considered key by the League of Conservation Voters, including votes related to automobile fuel economy, offshore Virginia drilling, refinery construction, renewable electricity mandates, energy efficiency, liquefied coal and support for biofuels. The absences prompted the League to give McCain a "zero" rating for the year.

McCain was accompanied during his stay in South Dakota by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who has been mentioned as a potential running mate.

[bigwhtpony]

and mockery of that message is the response from the C-O-N-S-E-R-V-A-T-I-V-E.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:52 AM : Aug 06, 2008

Cupcake, we cannot ''inflate'' ourselves out of this situation! :)

[s1ckd09]

At least McCain tries to offer a comprehensive, all inclusive energy plan that makes sense in the real world.
Obama offers nothing.
As far as nuclear energy, it is the cleanest, most efficient form of energy out there, bar none. The potential for disaster is greater, sure, but more people die in farming accidents each year than by nuclear power accidents. And yes, I admit that when there is a nuclear problem, it is a BIG problem, but the only thing that is REALLY important is getting rid of oil, right? After all, isn''t oil the reason for all of this in the first place? There isn''t a single proposal out there for any alternative fuel, or combiniation of alternative fuels that can meet the demand and industrialized nation needs. We need to fact those facts, and then start talking about a solution. That is, for those of us who want to find a solution. But the ugly fact is that politicians don''t WANT to find a solution, they want to find a problem that they can get elected on by PROMISING to find a solution.

[starleo146]

And yet McCain successfully opposed the shipping of nuclear waste and fuel through the state of Arizona...

NIMBY...

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 06:22 AM : Aug 06, 2008

Someone better wake up and ask the nimble brain about all the consequences of his energy policies, How much you want a bet he couldn''t answer it, he only talks about what the Bush Cheney policy tells him to do, he thinks he will win with this approach, Keep it up Mc Same you are digging your own grave, You have not done one thing but to criticize your opponent instead of coming up with a rel plan of your own, Not Karl Rove''s Plan of more dirty politics, American are sick of it

[starleo146]

McCain mocks Obama`s tire pressure remark..

Someone in the audience asked Obama what can we do as Americans to help the energy crises. Obama said,"One thing is to make sure your tires are inflated to the proper gauge", and Mc Same thinks this a joke what in the H@ell has he come up with to help, as usual not one thing only to help BIG BUSINESS, like oil companies, electric companies, no alternative in his plan, stick it to us, once again the Bush policies he is adopting more of over and over, nothing new, no change in policy, so in line with BUSH CHENEY he needs to wake up.

[starleo146]

all I have to say about more nuclear energy plants is 3 mile island and what happens to all the nuclear waste from these plants? What about the nuclear plant in Russia that actually had a meltdown, human error is not preventable and these plants are not something I want in my backyard.

Posted by armydog2 at 08:14 AM : Aug 06, 2008
+ report abuse

Thank you for your post, who is Mc Same helping with 45 nuclear plants he wants built, Someone please ask the the no brain idiot how much is the cost of 45 nuclear plants, and who invariably will end up paying for it. Our light bill went up and still is going up to pay for the nuclear plant they built in my state. He doesn''t tell you that, and also the nuclear waste has no idea what we will do with it, and why he is absolutely flipped. It is companies he cares about more than us with his energy plan and seeing he has no idea about economics why should he come up with something that will use alternative fuel he can''t he is of the old thought process.He is a complete joke

[armydog2]

all I have to say about more nuclear energy plants is 3 mile island and what happens to all the nuclear waste from these plants? What about the nuclear plant in Russia that actually had a meltdown, human error is not preventable and these plants are not something I want in my backyard.

[mjvw2]

McCain mocks Obama`s tire pressure remark...

Properly inflated tires will save 3% of your fuel usage...

Hmmm, lemme see... 10 gals/week, x$4/gal x52 weeks is... uh, $2080. Now 3% of that is, huh, 0.03x2080 ,,,

$62.40

Thats more than twice the amount McCain wanted to save me with a tax holiday

Posted by Nancy_Naive

However; those of us smart enough to alway keep out tires properly inflated save nothing under the chosen one''s plan

[ptsdveteran]

radiation = cancer!!! You''d think mcstupid would know about such things, www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com

[jedi080808]

PPS Anbody want to wager that those RePIGS doing that vacation stunt will clock out by the end of the week . . . for Congress what is that, Thursday? LOL



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SamTheTVCat

Oh, Please, give me a frinkin break. The B!tC* Nancy wont even allow a vote. What is that. Get a clue Pelsi

[samthetvcat]

If everybody from land-locked states is so eager to begin off-shore drilling, maybe in return they ought to be required to carry the burden of having the nuclear plants built in their state. Like every state ought to be required to either excavate coal, have nuclear plants, windmills, or off-shore drilling . . . no free rides!

PS Anbody else notice how Barack''s pledging to be free of foreign oil dependency in 10 years . . . isn''t that like him saying we''re still going to be dependent on oil when he leaves office?

PPS Anbody want to wager that those RePIGS doing that vacation stunt will clock out by the end of the week . . . for Congress what is that, Thursday? LOL

[jimfinster]

Assuming he is still alive, McCain would be something like 93 in 2030. ***?

[ubrew12]

DLaT29 said: "nuclear fusion reaction... will trump any energy source on the planet."
In the meantime, fission has waste and fuel issues (the fuel can be gamed, causing shortages). The solar thermal plant I indicated uses 19th century technology and works fine. The europeans are studying underground DC cables to bring Sahara solar energy to N europe, but half or more of the U.S. population lives with abundant solar in their backyard.

Fission is gods gift to terrorists, you know! Of course, it should be increased in the U.S. (primarily in the northern half), so ~30% of our energy is by nuclear. But, the short shrift given to solar is ridiculous. As I mentioned, mirrors and pipes filled with salt solution, plus a standard steam power plant: 19th century technology. 100mi by 100mi collects enough to meet all U.S. energy needs. time to put in at least 30% of that figure.

[dante805]

Finally a POL with a rational energy policy. Nuclear is the only way to get off mideast oil. Forget wind and solar they will never be more than 10%. Go nuke big time. I say 100 more plants by 2020.

[dlat29]

More of that ''''cant-do conservatism''''?

McCain pushes nuclear because it comes with a fuel, ''''shortages'''' of which can be gamed to enslave sheep like you.

Take a look at Hydrogen (MIT, yesterday) for moving energy. Posted by ubrew12 at 04:22 PM : Aug 05, 2008

So you really think that we can charge up a bunch of hydrogen fuel cells and ship em up here to boston to power the Prudential Center? I really hope you are right. There is nothing wrong with nuclear power. The more we research the atomic structure the closer we will come to a clean energy efficient nuclear fusion reaction which will trump any energy source on the planet.

[six-six-seis]

He Sells Cheese,
Bags Groceries,
Bikers love him, and now hes a nuclear scientist..

gotta love a renaisance fossil who takes the time
to show us he really, really cares....

Photo Ops, with PumpJacks.....
opening flow valves to prove that he is doing his Job.

George Dumbyah Busch + Juan MaCaine Equals

Same $#.it different @s.$ hole

[ubrew12]

DLaT29 said: "I''m assuming Al Gore knows a way to effeciently get all of that energy distributed to the rest of the country too right? Is that his superpower? "

More of that ''cant-do conservatism''?

McCain pushes nuclear because it comes with a fuel, ''shortages'' of which can be gamed to enslave sheep like you.

Take a look at Hydrogen (MIT, yesterday) for moving energy.

[bigwhtpony]

Atoms had not yet been invented when McCain was born :) Posted by jimfinster at 04:05 PM : Aug 05, 2008

It must take a monumental effort to drag your huge brain around on a daily basis, huh? What a candyassed, bedwetting liberal.

[dlat29]

"Answer: all of it. A 100 mile by 100 mile area of mostly mirrors and pipes (filled with salt solution) collects enough energy to power the entire country of America. "

I''m assuming Al Gore knows a way to effeciently get all of that energy distributed to the rest of the country too right? Is that his superpower?

[jimfinster]

Atoms had not yet been invented when McCain was born :)

[ubrew12]

What percentage of America''s electricity could come from solar thermal arrays covering an area 100 miles by 100 miles in the American Southwest?

A solar thermal array heats up a salt solution during the day using mirrors, but uses the salt solution to drive electric turbines around the clock.

Answer: all of it. A 100 mile by 100 mile area of mostly mirrors and pipes (filled with salt solution) collects enough energy to power the entire country of America.