WALZ, PAULSEN CONTINUE TO PUSH MN LEGISLATURE FOR BIPARTISAN, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
                                                                                                                           
Say Minnesota should not be left behind as nation seeks to incorporate nuclear power into broad energy plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010

MN—Today, Congressman Walz and Congressman Paulsen released the following statement in reaction to the Obama Administration’s stated intentions to push for expanded use of nuclear energy:

“Like members of both parties, the President is making it clear that nuclear energy should be a part of a comprehensive approach to our nation’s energy challenges,” said Walz and Paulsen. “As long as Minnesota does not have the option of exploring nuclear power, we will remain at a competitive disadvantage. Without action, Minnesota will be left behind as other states across the country move forward towards a new energy future.  As Minnesota legislators return to Saint Paul this week, we urge them to overturn the moratorium and give Minnesota a seat at the table in addressing the energy challenges we face.”

President Obama pushed for increased production of nuclear energy in his State of the Union saying “To create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country.”

He also included $56 million in his budget proposal for federal loans to private companies looking to build new nuclear power reactors.

Additionally, Congressman Paulsen and Congressman Walz have been pushing for President Obama to move quickly on naming a Blue Ribbon Commission to identify a solution for storing nuclear waste. The President announced his commission on Friday: http://www.energy.gov/news/8584.htm.

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