In a spring 2006 congressional testimony, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama suggests nuclear energy should remain part of the domestic energy equation, saying “As Congress considers policies to address air quality and the deleterious effects of carbon emissions on the global ecosystem, it is reasonable — and realistic — for nuclear power to remain on the table for consideration.” He reaffirms that nuclear should remain “in the energy mix” at a recent Democratic presidential candidate debate.
Aside from Sen. Hillary Clinton, a self-declared ”agnostic” on nuclear energy, Obama is the sole Democratic candidate willing to consider the continuesd use of nuclear energy. It’s a position more in line with the Republican contenders, all of whom support the use of nuclear energy. It has endeared him to energy behemoth and Illinois-based Excelon, which operates some of Illinois’ 11 nuclear power plants, but it has drawn criticism from most environmental groups. By pledging opposition to storing nuclear waste in Nevada’s Yucca Mountain repository, Clinton distanced herself from Obama and won the state’s primary. Just for the record, Obama has also pledged to close Yucca, but it may not carry as much weight. See what grist.org had to say.
