Earth Equity News

Sen, Bennett Accuses Friends of the Earth of Undermining Support for 'Nuclear Bailout'. By Thomas Burr, SaltLakeTrib, February 13, 2009. "Congressional negotiators have cut a $50 billion provision for low-carbon energy producers pushed by Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, in the giant stimulus package. The funding, which critics contended was aimed to 'bail out' the nuclear industry, was chopped from the bill as members of the House and Senate met to whittle down the measure to under $800 billion. The environmental group Friends of the Earth started running advertisements slamming Bennett on cable news stations in Utah after he inserted the $50 billion into the stimulus bill in a Senate committee... Green groups said the money would end up producing new nuclear power plants. Bennett decried the characterization of the environmental groups, saying the funding would go to other alternative energy options, such as solar, wind and geothermal. On Thursday, Bennett said the funding was lost because of the group's political attacks... Environmental groups hailed the decision to cut the funding. 'This is a huge win for our planet and for taxpayers who want stimulus funds to be invested wisely,' said Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder. 'The bailout in question would have thrilled nuclear industry lobbyists but done virtually nothing to stimulate the economy.' Bennett opposed the overall stimulus bill in Senate votes."