McCain Contradicts Own Position on Nuclear Power

Says he opposes energy subsidies—but then supports massive handouts for nuclear power

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Friends of the Earth Action President Brent Blackwelder criticized Sen. John McCain today for once again contradicting his own position on taxpayer giveaways to the nuclear power industry.

McCain has repeatedly supported billions of dollars of handouts for the nuclear power industry, most recently by advocating the addition of massive nuclear giveaways to the Lieberman-Warner global warming bill.

But today’s Wall Street Journal reports that at a conference in Washington State last month, McCain said he opposes government support for clean energy. McCain reportedly said, "I'm a little wary -- I have to give you straight talk -- about government subsidies. … When government jumps in and distorts the market, then there's unintended consequences as well as intended."

Friends of the Earth Action President Brent Blackwelder responded by calling McCain’s comments hypocritical.

“Instead of giving us straight talk, John McCain is talking out of both sides of his mouth,” Blackwelder said. “He claims to be worried about ‘distorting’ the market, but there is no market at all for new nuclear power in this country without massive government subsidies. McCain’s explanation for rejecting clean energy such as wind and solar doesn’t wash. It’s hypocrisy, plain and simple.”

“Voters need to understand there’s a world of difference between Barack Obama and John McCain on clean energy,” Blackwelder said. “Barack Obama will hasten the transition to clean energy. John McCain won’t.”

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Friends of the Earth Action (www.foeaction.org) provides extra muscle to our sister organization, Friends of the Earth, in legislative battles affecting our environment. FoE Action and our affiliated PAC also serve as Friends of the Earth's political arm, making thoughtful political endorsements, providing direct support to candidates, and placing environmentalists in the field on critical campaigns. Friends of the Earth Action's mission is to promote a clean, healthy and just world and to ensure that we have lawmakers who will work to protect the environment.