Greenpeace Co-Founder Urges Iowans to Join National Coalition Supporting Increased Use of Nuclear Energy
5 October 2006
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Dr. Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace and co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, today brought his message about the benefits of nuclear energy to Iowa. Dr. Moore called on Iowans to join the CASEnergy Coalition in support of nuclear power's use as a clean, safe, reliable and cost-effective way to balance America's energy demands and protect the environment.
"Our country's significant energy needs keep growing. We must diversify our energy sources to meet these needs," said Dr. Moore. "Nuclear energy should be an important part of this diversification plan, especially since its production generates no air pollutants or greenhouse gases."
Iowa's CASEnergy kick-off was held at the FPL Energy Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo, where Dr. Moore was joined by Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran; State Representative Brian Quirk; Justin Shields, Cedar Rapids City Councilman and President of the Hawkeye Labor Council; Sara Mentzer of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce; and FPL Duane Arnold Energy Center Site Vice President Gary Van Middlesworth.
FPL Energy Duane Arnold Energy Center - Iowa's only nuclear power facility - generated 4,539,312 megawatt hours of electrical power in 2005, which accounted for 10.3% of the state's electricity. Iowa is a part of the United States' West North Central power grid that is projected to need 21% more electricity by 2030 to meet increasing demand.
Coalition members said that if a new nuclear power plant were built in Iowa, it would create economic, consumer and environmental benefits. While there are currently no plans to build a new plant in the state, just one new facility would create 1,400-1,800 construction jobs, employ 400-500 full-time professional workers, result in 400-500 jobs in the surrounding communities, and generate $500 million a year for the local economy. Employees at U.S. nuclear power plants also earn salaries approximately 40 percent higher than salaries earned by non-plant employees in nearby communities.
Dr. Moore stressed that nuclear energy is also an environmentally clean option for electricity production - it produces no harmful greenhouse gases suspected to cause global warming and no gases that could cause ground-level ozone formation, smog or acid rain.
"Scientific evidence shows that nuclear power is an environmentally sound and safe energy choice," said Dr. Moore. "To create a safe environment and secure energy for our future, the United States must regain its leadership in this area. If the United States were to double nuclear energy production, it would be possible to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing our energy supply."
A recent survey shows that Americans are looking for clean, affordable, domestically produced energy. They are already favorable to nuclear energy, and support grows as they learn more about it.
Nuclear energy currently produces electricity for one out of five U.S. homes and businesses. The CASEnergy Coalition advocates increasing nuclear energy production.
The Coalition's goals include educating Americans about the benefits of nuclear energy and increasing support for nuclear energy as a component of a diverse strategy to meet America's needs today and in the future. The Coalition serves as an umbrella group under which disparate organizations and interests who share a desire for clean, reliable, safe and affordable electricity sources can unite. There are more than 500 charter members of the Coalition from across the United States.
The CASEnergy Coalition is funded by the Nuclear Energy Institute, and membership is open to individuals, corporations, and non-profit institutions.