News on Yucca Mountain and America's energy supply

From Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office:

Today, President Obama, with help from Senator Reid, released an outline for the 2010 federal budget, which will drastically scale back funding for ongoing efforts to license the dump.

“President Obama yesterday took a critical first step toward fulfilling his promise to end the Yucca Mountain project, and I could not be happier for the people of Nevada,” Reid said. “Make no mistake: this represents our most significant victory to date in our battle to protect Nevada from becoming the country’s toxic wasteland. I have worked for more than two decades with help from our state’s leaders and thousands of Nevadans to stop Yucca Mountain. President Obama recognizes that the proposed dump threatens the health and safety of Nevadans, and millions of Americans. His commitment to stop this terrible project could not be clearer.”

Pres. Obama’s budget also reveals plans to consider alternatives to the dump. The outline says the administration will devise “a new strategy toward nuclear waste disposal,” something long called for by Nevadans.

While Senator Reid has been working with Pres. Obama to kill the Yucca Mountain dump, he also secured $100 million for Nevada in an omnibus bill the Senate will consider next week. The bill includes $18.7 million for roads and transportation, nearly $15 million for energy projects, $5.4 million for schools and $4.6 million for health care – funds that are badly needed in Nevada during this budget crisis.

Meanwhile, Reid has continued his crusade to make Nevada a renewable energy pioneer. This week, Reid announced he would be presenting a major energy transmission bill in the Senate that would make it easier to carry renewable energy from often remote locations to urban centers in need of power.

(Video link)

The August 2008 meeting that Reid mentions in the video was the National Clean Energy Summit.

REID WAS ALSO ON KNPR's State of Nevada program today talking about Yucca Mountain and Nevada's share of the economic stimulus package.