WASHINGTON — Badly outnumbered and months behind in the debate on energy and climate change, House Republicans plan to introduce an energy bill on Wednesday as an alternative to the Democratic plan barreling toward a House vote this month.

How’s that for a lede? The Republicans have a plan, but they’re SO behind the times that nobody should really take them seriously.

The Republican proposal, drafted by a group led by Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, leans heavily on nuclear power, setting a goal of building 100 reactors over the next 20 years. No new nuclear plants have been ordered in the United States since 1978 because of the high cost of construction and uncertainty about regulatory approval.

Silly Republicans…they don’t realize that we don’t DO nuclear here in the US. Didn’t they hear? They’re expensive and the government won’t allow them anyway! Expensive…maybe. But relative to the Obama plan of cap and trade? Not so much. Obama is talking freely about his plan bankrupting the coal industry. Nuclear energy is clean and building and maintaining plants will create thousands of jobs. No go. Didn’t you see China Syndrome? Silkwood? There’s “uncertainty” about regulatory approval of new plants because the government passed these regulations in the 1970’s during the hysteria evidenced by these 2 movies. More people are at risk of dying by cigarettes than were ever at risk of being contaminated by a “meltdown” at a nuclear power plant. Those sure were good movies, though.

The bill also provides incentives for increased oil and gas production on public and private lands and offshore. It would also authorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a focus of 30 years of controversy in Congress.

The Republican measure does not include any mandatory cap on emissions of heat-trapping gases, relying instead on nuclear energy, natural gas and renewable fuels like wind, solar and biomass power to reduce production of the gases, which have been linked to global warming.

No cap and trade? Will it must be half-cocked then. Said the buggy driver to the car dealer, “nice vehicle, but where do you put the horse?”. Cap and trade is the problem. That’s the very motivating factor behind the Republican proposal. The logjam in Congress these past 30 years prohibiting the exploration and recovery of our own natural resources has been caused almost completely by the Democrats being beholden to their environmental lobbyists and NOT to the American people.

“This is an alternative that takes us in the direction of energy independence and a clean environment without the national energy tax being offered by the Democrats,” Mr. Pence said.

Amen.

“President Obama’s recent comment in support of Iranian nuclear power is both shocking and reckless. Supporting Iran’s “legitimate [nuclear] aspirations” ignores all recent history and smacks of the same naive and misguided approach that allowed for North Korea to gain nuclear power – and now possess nuclear weapons. In a bow to our worst enemies, the President is  showing a striking ability to imitate former President Jimmy Carter.

“In just recent memory, Iran has funded terrorist activities against U.S. troops and our allies, called for the destruction of both the U.S. and our strong ally Israel, and sought to systematically destabilize the Middle East and world. Does the President believe Iran wants nuclear power to do their part in combating climate change? Iran has made it abundantly clear what sinister plans they have with nuclear power – and both the U.S. and our allies have great reason to worry.

“There are few scenarios worse than Iran gaining nuclear power – and subsequently nuclear weapons – to threaten and potentially attack the U.S. and our closest allies. The President should immediately recant his support for Iranian nuclear power and consider better options to  protect our nation, not endanger it.”

Interesting side note: Obama won’t support his own country’s peaceful pursuit of nuclear energy, but he’s willing to risk nuclear armageddon in support of a rogue nation like Iran’s pursuit of it?

Do we still doubt the agenda of this dangerous man?

STOCKHOLM (AP) – The Swedish government agreed Thursday to scrap a three-decade ban on building new nuclear reactors, saying it needs to avoid producing more greenhouse gases.

Sweden is a leader on renewable energy but is struggling to develop alternative source like hydropower and wind to meet its growing energy demands. If parliament approves scrapping the ban, Sweden would join a growing list of countries rethinking nuclear power as a source of energy amid concerns over global warming and the reliability of energy suppliers such as Russia. Britain, France and Poland are planning new reactors and Finland is currently building Europe’s first new atomic plant in over a decade.

via Sweden changes course on nuclear power.

Remind me again why we’re not going nuclear in the US?

Oh yeah, I forgot.