Natalie Gonnella
As Japan struggle with relief efforts and nuclear safety concerns in the aftermath of the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunamis, several lawmakers have begun to question America's own nuclear energy policy.
In response to rising concerns, a number of conservatives have recently spoken out on the issue, citing the view that now is the time to focus on efforts to assist the Japanese people rather than begin a heated debate over domestic energy strategy, and that the events in Japan should have no impact on US energy plans.
While the debate is likely to continue in the coming weeks amid other energy concerns (like rising oil prices), here's a look at a few recent comments from conservatives on the issue:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
I think what we ought to do right now is concentrate on trying to help our Japanese friends after this disaster. This discussion reminds me somewhat of the conversations that were going on after the BP oil spill last year. I don't think right after a major environmental catastrophe is a very good time to be making American domestic policy. I think we ought to just concentrate on helping the Japanese in any way that we can. My thought about it is, we ought not to make American and domestic policy based upon an event that happened in Japan. And we ought to concentrate on helping the Japanese get past this catastrophe.
I think we should go forward [with US nuclear energy plans]. This nuclear reactor withstood a 9.1 Richter scale earthquake and a tsunami, and although there was a hydrogen explosion in the outer containment, the inner containment building is secure. Of course, it remains to be seen – we’ve got to watch this evolve….But this is not the time for us to shut down our ability to generate nuclear power. We’re only doing 20 percent. We probably need to be doing 30 percent.
Heritage Foundation Research Fellow Jack Spencer:
The danger that Japanese engineers are currently grappling with should not be minimized: what is happening right now with Japan’s reactors could lead to a meltdown and significant release of radiation. You could also get hit by a car on your way to work today. But that is not what is likely to occur. What is likely to occur is that Japanese officials will continue to operate professionally and oversee the order cooling of these plants.
Events unfolding in Japan ought to have no impact on the current U.S. reactor fleet or future plans to expand that fleet. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not need to regulate more in response to this. We need to remember that nuke plants are privately owned and that their owners have every incentive to maintain safe operations. The government’s role should simply be to set and enforce fair, efficient, and effective safety and environmental standards and allow private industry to meet them. Anti-nuke crusaders like Markey make this balance impossible. If the risk of nuclear power is too great, investors will put their money somewhere else.
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