Playing Spin the Atom, Once Again

"The new year saw the launch of a well-orchestrated, multi-pronged campaign calling for America to end its dependence on oil through massive federal investments in nuclear energy," warns Patrick Doherty. The campaign includes articles by American Enterprise Institute and Global Business Network staff, a book titled "A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy" by Senate Energy Committee Chair Pete Domenici, and President Bush's State of the Union address. But what the nuclear industry is pushing "will cost the taxpayer $8 billion" and won't decrease U.S. oil consumption for decades, writes Doherty. Instead, he suggests "small natural gas turbines combined with better grid design."