Pearce continues hammering Udall on energy
Republican Senate candidate Steve Pearce’s new radio ad continues his campaign’s hammering of Democratic opponent Tom Udall on energy issues.
“It’s time our government stood up for working families, reduce our energy costs by building nuclear power plants and drilling for oil on land and offshore,” Pearce says in the ad, which you can listen to by clicking here. “The far left environmentalists are not going to like this and maybe it’s not politically correct, but nuclear energy is a sure way to America’s energy independence. Nuclear power can make America free from Middle Eastern oil cartels.”
“Nuclear power will make energy affordable, America prosperous and keep American jobs here instead of being shipped overseas,” Pearce says in the ad. “But Tom Udall and the extreme environmentalists oppose nuclear energy and offshore drilling. That’s bad for America. Tom Udall and the radical environmentalists are in our way.”
“Tom Udall opposes nuclear and domestic oil drilling. I support them. It’s just that simple,” Pearce says.
In recent days, Pearce has hammered Udall on the drilling and nuclear issues in television and newspaper ads. Republicans in Washington believe the energy issue is the one on which they have the advantage among the American people in an otherwise left-leaning year.
Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla released this statement:
“Steve Pearce kicked off his campaign with false negative attack ads. It’s no wonder. If I had his record of carrying the water for big oil, special interests and George W. Bush, I wouldn’t have anything positive to say either,” she said. “Tom Udall supports a balanced, multifaceted approach to addressing our nation’s energy dilemma. He knows that nuclear is part of our energy future and we must also increase domestic oil drilling and production, crack down on hedge fund speculation, dramatically increase fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and make serious investments in alternative energy.”
Comments:
Posted 08/07/2008 14:44 with
In the age of terrorism, nuclear reactors are inviting targets. Now Congressman Pearce is foolishly pushing for nuclear reactors in New Mexico in his new TV spot. By the way Mr. Pearce where are we going to put all the nuclear waste and what happens when radioactive elements accidentally leaks into our underground water systems?
Congressman Pearce should read a 2003 MIT study, “The Future of Nuclear Energy,” that concluded: “The prospects for nuclear energy as an option are limited” by many “unresolved problems,” of which “high relative cost” is only one. Others include environment, safety and health issues, nuclear proliferation concerns, and the challenge of long-term waste management”. The Wall Street Journal recently stated that “A new generation of nuclear power plants is on the drawing boards in the U.S., but the projected cost is causing some sticker shock: $5 billion to $12 billion a plant, double to quadruple earlier rough estimates”. Obviously Mr. Pearce has not read these documents.
Also There has been leaking tritium – a radioactive isotope of hydrogen – into the groundwater of areas surrounding nuclear plants. Leaks have occurred at the Braidwood, Byron, and Dresden reactors in Illinois, the Palo Verde reactors in Arizona, and the Indian Point nuclear plant near New York City. I am sure Congressman Pearce knows nothing about this! This is a foolhardy venture when we can invest less money in wind and solar power – a more balanced approach. A truly informed national debate about nuclear power is long over-due. Time is short. The nuclear waste legacy will impact all future generations.
Posted 08/08/2008 12:29 with
Pennsylvania is planning the second-largest solar power plant in the nation. Yesterday, state officials announced a $65 million solar project in one of Carbon County’s oldest mining towns, Nesquehoning. It would generate 10.6 megawatts of power, enough to increase the state’s current solar output by a factor of 10 and provide electricity for 1,450 households. Why can’t we get this in the sunny New Mexico. Nuclear reactors cost $12 billion dollars. Mr. Pearce do you have any ideas?