FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Mariotte, NIRS 301-270-6477 May 12, 2010 cell: 301-395-7463

GRASSROOTS CLEAN ENERGY/ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS:

KERRY-LIEBERMAN DIRTY ENERGY BILL IS NO SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CRISIS

200 environmental, peace, consumer, religious organizations and small businesses today joined together to blast the Kerry-Lieberman “climate” proposal as a taxpayer bailout of the nuclear power industry and other dirty energy interests that would be ineffective at addressing the climate crisis.

The groups pledged to oppose the Kerry- Lieberman bill unless substantial changes are made, including removing all support for nuclear power.

“This bill is just business-as-usual: taxpayer giveaways to giant nuclear and other energy corporations wrapped in the guise of doing something about our climate crisis. To call this a climate bill is greenwashing in the extreme. We need to direct our resources to the fastest, cheapest, cleanest and safest means of reducing carbon emissions—this bill does just the opposite,” said Michael Mariotte, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, a national organization based in Takoma Park, MD, which coordinated this statement.

“The climate crisis won’t be solved by increasing reliance on the dirty energy technologies of the past.” said Michael Keegan of the -based Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes, “What we need is an all-out effort to implement the clean technologies that already exist and are improving daily: solar and wind power, distributed energy systems, smart grids, increased energy efficiency—these are the energy technologies of the 21st century.”

Among other provisions, the bill is expected to:

*provide $54 billion in taxpayer “loan guarantees” for construction of new nuclear reactors. These “loan guarantees” would actually be direct taxpayer loans from the government’s Federal Financing Bank. It would also provide a 10% tax break to wealthy utilities for nuclear construction costs.

*create a “Clean Energy Deployment Administration” (CEDA) with the authority to provide unlimited taxpayer loans for new reactor construction without Congressional oversight.

*support dirty and dangerous reprocessing technologies, authorize billions of dollars in nuclear research and development, and legislatively attempt to speed the nuclear reactor licensing process despite a recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center that found the industry is primarily to blame for the slow pace of licensing.

*continue to support offshore oil drilling near much of the U.S. coastline despite the calamitous BP oil spill.

*provide $10 billion for wasteful and impossible “clean coal” development.

*target a reduction in carbon emissions of only 17% from 2005 levels by 2020—far lower than most scientists believe is necessary.

Groups in New England were particularly upset at their Senators’ actions. "Senator John Kerry's blatant support of the nuclear industry has left thousands of his Massachusetts constituents questioning his judgment,” said Sandra Gavutis, executive director of C-10, a grassroots group in eastern Massachusetts.

“Senator Joe Lieberman is the nuclear power industries’ best friend in the U.S. Senate. His support for a major federal loan guarantee for the nuclear power industry comes as no surprise. However, he does not represent the interests of the people of Connecticut, who demand investment instead in safe, clean, renewable energy,” added Nancy Burton of the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone.

In an affront to across the world, Senators Kerry and Lieberman originally chose April 26—the 24th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe—to unveil their “climate bill” that would provide vast new government support for construction of new nuclear reactors and make future Chernobyl-like disasters even more likely. Only the sudden withdrawal of support for the bill by Senator Lindsay Graham changed the bill’s release date.

“Everyone needs to face the tragic truth about the very real consequences of nuclear catastrophe,” says Glenn Carroll, coordinator of Nuclear Watch South. “The Chernobyl accident is still happening as wildlife intrudes the ruined reactor and spreads radiation around the countryside. The massive concrete sarcophagus is 24 years old and threatens to collapse, initiating another deadly plume of radiation to the environment. Sun and wind promise us complete freedom from the untenable threat of irreversible nuclear contamination and our leaders must be pressed upon to heed Chernobyl’s warning against investing in more nuclear reactors.” Nuclear Watch South is based in Georgia where the giant Southern Company is slated to receive the first government nuclear payouts for two new reactors at the Vogtle site near Augusta.

“In the past month we’ve commemorated Chernobyl--the worst man-made disaster in history-- and seen two new disasters: a massive oil spill on our Gulf Coast and a coal mine explosion,” said Mariotte. “Nuclear power, oil and coal are not solutions to climate change, they are enormous environmental problems. These Senators should know better. The widespread opposition to this bill indicated by these 200 organizations indicates the American people want real solutions to the climate crisis, not more expensive bailouts for dirty energy interests.”

Signers listed by State Russell Lowes, Research Director Patricia Birnie www.SafeEnergyAnalyst.org GE Stockholders Alliance Tucson, AZ Tucson, AZ Stephen M. Brittle Jack & Felice Cohen-Joppa Don't Waste Arizona The Nuclear Resister Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Dave Ewoldt Executive Director 2 Natural Systems Solutions Westhaven Center for the Arts Tucson, AZ Trinidad, CA

Bill Cunningham Joyce McLean Southwest Solar Santa Cruz WILPF Tucson, AZ Santa Cruz, CA

Julia Rouvier Marylia Kelley Flagstaff Nuclear Awareness Project Tri-Valley CAREs Flagstaff, AZ Communities Against a Radioactive Environment Livermore, CA Christopher Worcester Solar Wind Works Sheldon Plotkin Truckee, CA Southern Federation of Scientists Los Angeles, CA Elaine Holder, President Mothers for Committee Bernice Fischer San Luis Obispo, CA Peninsula Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Robin Bayer, President Palo Alto, CA Magic Palo Alto, CA Guenn Johnsen-Gentry Director of Education and Outreach Linda Seeley North Valley Food Co-op Terra Foundation Redding, CA San Luis Obispo, CA Albert G Cohen Mary Beth Brangan Southern California EON, The Ecological Options Network Ecumenical Council Bolinas, CA Pasadena, CA

Philip Tymon, Administrative Director Todd Steiner, Executive Director Occidental Arts and Ecology Center Turtle Island Restoration Network Occidental, CA Forest Knolls, CA

Lillian Light, President Patricia Krommer C.S.J. The Environmental Priorities Network Sisters of St. Joseph Palos Verdes, CA Los Angeles, CA

Leslie Sheridan, President Wendy Oser The Added Edge, Inc. Nuclear Guardianship Project Vineburg, CA Berkeley, CA

Steven Gorelick Dorothy Holland, Co-Chair International Society for Ecology and Culture Santa Barbara Branch Berkeley, CA Women's International League for Peace & Freedom Enid Schreibman Santa Barbara, CA Center for Safe Energy Berkeley, CA Ananda Lee Tan North American Program Coordinator Monroe Jeffrey Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives International Tribal Association Berkeley, CA Perris, CA Free Soil Party of the U.S. Carol Wiebe Los Angeles, CA

3 No Nukes Now Mark Moulton Tallassahee, FL Fund For Peace Initiatives Menlo Park, CA Marilyn Blackwell Help Save the Apalachicola River Group Faye Butler Wewahitchka, FL Pax Christi Fremont, CA Cara Campbell, Chair Ecology Party of , Evan Ravitz, Founder Ft. Lauderdale, FL Vote.org Boulder, CO Nancy O'Byrne Pax Christi Northeast Florida Lezley Suleiman St. Augustine, FL President, Tallahassee Area Community Canon City, CO John Hedrick Panhandle Citizens Coalition Sharyn Cunningham, Co-Chair Tallahassee, FL Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste, Inc. Canon City, CO Dick Glick Corporation for Future Resources Judi Friedman, Chair Tallahassee, FL PACE (Peoples Action for Clean Energy, Inc.) Canton, CT Rev. Dr. Kathleen A. Bishop Rabbi Barry Silver Nancy Burton Social Justice League of Palm Beach County Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone Lake Worth, FL Redding Ridge, CT Joyce Tarnow, President Paula Panzarella Floridians for a Sustainable Population Fight the Hike Cross City, FL New Haven, CT Sue Michalson, chair Alan Muller, Executive Director The Village Greens Environmental Club Green Delaware The Villages, FL Port Penn, DE Michael Canney Jim Riccio Alachua County Green Party Gainesville, FL Washington DC Glenn Carroll Scott Sklar Nuclear Watch South The Stella Group, Ltd. Atlanta, GA Washington, DC Tom Ferguson Jay Marx, Campaign Coordinator Foundation for Global Community Proposition One Committee for Nuclear Atlanta, GA Disarmament and Economic Conversion Washington, DC Bob Darby Food Not Bombs Donald Keesing Atlanta, GA Coordinator Voices Opposed To Environmental Racism Bobbie Paul, Executive Director Washington, DC Georgia WAND Atlanta, GA Jim Walker

4 Adele Kushner, Executive Director Coalition for Health Concern, Inc. Action for a Clean Environment Benton, KY Alto, GA W. H. Herke, Ph.D. Roy H. Taylor III Citizens for a Clean Environment Choosing Green Baton Rouge, LA Canton, GA Deb Katz Andrea Shipley, Executive Director Citizens Awareness Network Snake River Alliance Shelburne Falls, MA Boise, ID Sandra Gavutis, Executive Director Dave Kraft C-10 Foundation Nuclear Energy Information Service Newburyport, MA Chicago, IL Nancy Munger and Laura Roskos, Carolyn Treadway Co-Presidents No New Nukes WILPF, U.S. Section Normal, IL Boston, MA

Carol Stark, Director Hugh Harwell, MRP Citizens Against Ruining the Environment- Ecological Planner, Designer & Builder C.A.R.E. Sirius Ecovillage Lockport IL Shutesbury, MA

Maureen Headington Margaret Sheehan, President Stand Up/Save Lives Campaign Biomass Accountability Project, Inc. Burr Ridge, IL Cambridge, MA

Cheryl Becker Andrée Collier & Ken Ward Body Wisdom Incorporated Jamaica Plain Green House Lake Bluff, IL Jamaica Plain, MA

John E. Surette, SJ Jonathan Mark, Spiritearth Publisher, Flyby News La Grange Pk, IL Wendell Depot, MA

Rich Wenzel, President D.O., Glen & Jean Health Practitioners of America The Enviro Show Chicago, IL WXOJ-LP & WMCB Florence, MA John Blair, president Valley Watch, Inc. Virginia Pratt Evansville, IN Boston Branch, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Ann Suellentrop Boston, MA Physicians for Social Responsibility Kansas City Chapter David Starr, Director Kansas City, KS GREEN Northampton Northampton, MA Nancy Givens, CoChair BGGreen Partnership for a Sustainable Brent Baeslack, Co-chair Community Haverhill Environmental League Bowling Green, KY Haverhill MA

Corinne Whitehead, President William S. Linnell

5 Cheaper, Safer Power Derek Grigsby Portland, ME The Detroit Peoples Water Board Detroit, MI Bradshaw Cummings Peace Action Maine Vic Macks Portland, ME Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign Detroit, MI Michael Mariotte, Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service Amber Garlan Takoma Park, MD Green Party of St. Paul St. Paul, MN Max Obuszewski Baltimore Nonviolence Center Judi Poulson, Chair Baltimore, MD Fairmont MN Peace Group Fairmont, MN Ken Bossong, Executive Director SUN DAY Campaign Danene Provencher Takoma Park, MD West Metro Global Warming Action Group Mound, MN Kevin Kamps Beyond Nuclear Susu Jeffrey, Founder Takoma Park, MD Friends of Coldwater Twin Cities, MN Angela Flynn, Coordinator Teach Environmental Awareness for Community Jean Chovan, Joy Johnson Health Co-chairs Bethesda, MD Southeastern Alliance of Peacemakers Rochester, MN Gwen Dubois Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility Christine Frank, Coordinator Baltimore, MD Climate Crisis Coalition of the Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Dagmar Fabian Crabshell Alliance Mark Haim Baltimore, MD Missourians for Safe Energy Columbia, MO Keith Gunter Citizens' Resistance at Fermi Two Chris Daum Monroe, MI Oasis Montana Inc. Renewable Energy Supply & Design Alice Hirt Stevensville, MT Don't Waste Michigan Holland, MI Buffalo Bruce Western Nebraska Resources Council Michael J. Keegan Chadron, NE Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes Monroe, MI Steve Larrick, President South Salt Creek Community Organization Joel Welty, Executive Director Lincoln, NE Michigan Alliance of Cooperatives Blanchard, MI Peggy Maze Johnson Citizen Alert Eugenia Bajorek Las Vegas, NV SJF & PCUUC Peace and Justice Oakland, MI

6 Doug Bogen Citizens' Environmental Coalition Executive Director Albany, NY Seacoast Anti-Pollution League Portsmouth, NH Arnold Gore Consumers Health Freedom Coalition Paula Gotsch , NY GRAMMES Normandy Beach, NJ Stanley Romaine, Chair Great Neck SANE/Peace Action Lori Gold Great Neck, NY Genesis Farm Blairstown, NJ Gerald R. Lotierzo, Co-Chair Peace Action of Central New York Janet Greenwald Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping JK Canepa, Co-Founder Albuquerque, NM New York Climate Action Group New York, NY Joni Arends, Executive Director Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety Aresh Javadi, Executive Director Santa Fe, NM The More Gardens! Fund New York, NY Lesley Weinstock, Coordinator Aguq es Vida Action Team (AVAT) Ann Eagan Albuquerque, NM Green Party NYC New York, NY Marian Naranjo, Director Honor Our Pueblo Existence (H.O.P.E.) James Rauch, Secretary Espanola, NM F.A.C.T.S. (For A Clean Tonawanda Site) Alden, NY Penelope McMullen, SL Loretto Community Conrad Miller M.D. Santa Fe, NM Founder Physicians For Life John Boomer Watermill, NY MASE (Multicultural Alliance For A Safe Environment) Elaine Donovan, co-founder Albuquerque, NM Concerned Citizens for Peace Honeoye, NY Pam Gilchrist Network of Spiritual Progressives Joseph Mangano MPH MBA Santa Fe, NM Executive Director Radiation and Public Health Project Greg Mello New York, New York Los Alamos Study Group Albuquerque, NM Jim Warren, Executive Director NC WARN Douglas Meiklejohn Raleigh, NC New Mexico Environmental Law Center Santa Fe, NM Lewis E. Patrie, MD, Chair Western N. C. Physicians for Social Responsibility Alice Slater Asheville, NC Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, NY New York, NY E.M.T. O'Nan, Director Protect All Children's Environment Barbara Warren Marion, NC Executive Director

7 Robert Eidus B.A. Geary Eagle Feather Organic Farm Citizens Action for Safe Energy Marshall, NC Tulsa, OK

Wells Eddleman, Staff Scientist Nina Bell, J.D., Executive Director NC Citizens Research Group Northwest Environmental Advocates Durham NC Portland, OR

Ed King Betsy Toll Triangle Greens Living Earth Gatherings Pittsboro, NC Portland, OR

Roberta Dees Dona Hippert J.D., President Carolina Green Sense Toxics Alliance Charlotte, NC Eugene, OR

Clare Hanrahan Paige Knight, President Coleman Smith Hanford Watch War Resisters League-Asheville Portland, OR Asheville, NC Chuck Johnson Elaine Lite, Chair Center for Energy Research Mountain Voices Alliance Portland, OR Asheville, NC Lloyd Marbet, Executive Director Charlie Oregon Conservancy Foundation People Advocating Real Conservancy (PARC) Boring, OR Asheville, NC Peter Bergel Connie Kline Oregon PeaceWorks Ohio Citizens Against a Radioactive Environment Salem, OR CARE Willoughby Hills, OH Lynn Sims Don't Waste Oregon Chris Borello, President Portland, OR Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp./Uniontown IEL Superfund Site, OH David Hughes Citizen Power Terry J. Lodge, Convenor Pittsburgh, PA Toledo Coalition for Safe Energy Toledo, OH Dr. Lewis Cuthbert Alliance For A Clean Environment Karen Hansen, State Director Pottstown, PA Ohio Conference on Fair Trade Columbus, OH Ernest Fuller Concerned Citizens for SNEC Safety Harvey Wasserman Six Mile Run, PA Solartopia.org Columbus, OH Mike Ewall Energy Justice Network Marilyn McCullough Philadelphia, PA The Carrie Dickerson Foundation Tulsa, OK Zoey Alderman-Tuttle Student Green Team of Mercyhurst College Erie, PA

8 Eric Epstein Three Mile Island Alert Kathleen Ferris, Co-Founder Harrisburg, PA Citizens to End Nuclear Dumping in TN Murfreesboro, TN Katharine Dodge, President Northeast PA Audubon Society Irucka Embry Honesdale, PA EcoC2S (EcoCsquaredS) Murfreesboro/Nashville, TN Uke Jackson Uke Jackson Productions, Inc. Eric Lewis, Administrator Delaware Water Gap, PA Cumberland Green Bioregional Council Nashville, TN Mary Elizabeth Clark SSJ Earth Center Cynthia Weehler Philadelphia, PA Energia Mia San Antonio, TX Terri MacKenzie SHCJ The EcoSpirituality Group, American Province Jerry Stein, President Sisters of the Holy Child Peace Farm Rosemont, PA Amarillo, TX

Nancy Tate Mary Schneider LEPOCO Peace Center The Holographic Repatterning Institute At Austin Bethlehem, PA Austin, TX

I.K. Samways Chair Marisol Cortez, Climate Justice Organizer Green Party of Pennsylvania Southwest Workers' Union Harrisburg, PA San Antonio, TX

Sandy Hazley, Chair Peggy and Melodye Pryor Green Party of Allegheny County No Bonds for Billioniares Pittsburgh, PA Andrews, TX

Bill Belitskus, Board President Joseph L. Goldman, Ph.D, CCM Allegheny Defense Project (ADP) Technical Director Kane, PA International Center for the Solution of Environmental Problems Joe Martin Alpine, TX McKean County Citizens Against Nuclear Waste Bradford, PA Gary Stuard Founder/Executive Director Patricia Hval, Chair Interfaith Environmental Alliance (IEA) Westerly Peak Oil Task Force Dallas, TX Westerly, RI Graciela Sanchez William Smith, III Esperanza Peace and Justice Center USA Nica Windpower, Inc. San Antonio, TX Jamestown, RI Elena Day Finian Taylor Peoples' Alliance for Clean Energy Hilton Head for Peace Charlottesville, VA Hilton Head, SC Jason Von Kundra, President Louise Gorenflo, moderator GMU Environmental Action Group Know Nuclear Fairfax, VA Crossville TN

9 Joe Cook Madison WI Council Coordinator Hampton Roads MoveOn.org Guy Wolf Norfolk, VA Coulee Region Progressives Stoddard, WI Brian Tokar Institute for Social Ecology Gail Vaugh Plainfield, VT DownRiver Alliance Ferryville, WI Beth Champagne North Country Coalition for Justice and Peace Irene Mehlos St. Johnsbury, VT Merrill Peace Study Merrill, WI Crystal Zevon Farm Fresh Market and Café Christopher LaForge Barre, VT Great Northern Solar Port Wing, WI Randy Kehler, Co-Coordinator Safe & Green Campaign Northern Futures Foundation Brattleboro, VT Port Wing, WI

Debra Stoleroff Kickapoo Peace Circle Yankee Decommissioning Alliance Viroqua, WI Montpelier, VT Al Gedicks Ariel Zevon Wisconsin Resources Protection Council Local Agricultural Community Exchange La Crosse, WI Barre, VT

Rachel Smolker Climate SOS VT

Richard Grossman, clerk Quaker Earthcare Witness Burlington, VT

Gerry Pollet, JD; Executive Director, Heart of America Northwest Seattle, WA

Chris Herman Winter Sun Design Edmonds, WA

Marianne Edain Whidbey Environmental Action Network Langley, WA

John LaForge Nukewatch Luck, WI

Judy Miner, Executive Director Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice

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