Letter to Voinovich: Global Warming, Nuclear Energy, and Renewable Alternatives

Clean, renewable, sustainable energy sources are essential if we are to continue and renew the American Dream.

A recent e-newsletter from our Ohio Senator George Voinovich prompted me to send a brief email his office on the subject (text below).  As part of his "legacy," he is strongly supporting (re)development of nuclear energy.  In addition to addressing what would be a horrid mistake, I addressed a related issue:  All of his earlier e-newsletters began with the headline "The REAL Inconvenient Truth" followed by the current budget deficit amount.  I felt a need to address this misguided feature.

We'll see if a get a response from the Senator's office.

Email text:

"Two items:

1. E-Newsletter

As a recipient of the newsletter, I am glad to see that you no longer headline it with the phrase "The REAL Inconvenient Truth."  I agree wholeheartedly that the budget deficit is a real problem.  But there is no reason to denigrate another real problem -- global warming -- while bringing attention to the budget concern.  They both need attention.

2.  Nuclear Power

I hope that if the Senator supports pursuit of nuclear energy, that he also believes in folding the FULL cost of safe storage, transport and disposal of the waste, as well as the cost of adequately protecting facilities from terrorist attack (by ground or air), into the cost of the electricity to the consumer.  Anything less would be an unfair subsidy to be borne by the taxpayer.

Alternatively, I would encourage the Senator to redirect his efforts towards renewable sources that do not have the ill effects of extremely dangerous radioactive waste: wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal power.

Thank you.

Nathan Ruggles"