… is the fact that you can trust the nuclear power industry about as far as you can throw an elephant.<\/p>\n
If you can’t trust an entire industry to even look at you and not lie, then why do we trust them to do anything important?<\/p>\n
For example, Ohio.<\/p>\n
In Ohio, there has been a long term somewhat complicated fight over nuclear energy.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, and possibly oversimplified:<\/p>\n
The Ohio nuclear power industry seeks major public funding to extend the lives of existing projects.<\/p>\n
A bill is passed, HB6, which affords this bailout. The fight over that bill and similar initiatives fueled the development of a fairly impressive pro-nuclear lobbying effort which has spilled out into other states including Minnesota. The idea is that the nuclear industry wants states to pass bills supporting nuclear energy development, and\/or remove restrictions or disincentives.<\/p>\n
A citizens group, “Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts” is trying to get together a petition opposing the bill, asking for a statewide referendum abrogating it.<\/p>\n
Now, there is a pro nuclear group claiming that the anti-nuclear effort is a Chinese Plot. Here is their over the top ad, showing now in Ohio, which is expected to be the beginning of a long and intense flood of rhetoric Ohio voters can expect between now and … well, whenever.<\/p>\n