16-02-10 President Obama Gives Nuclear Energy a Boost

Does the country need new nuclear power plants? Should the taxpayers help foot the bill? President Obama today answered yes on both accounts with the announcement the government would provide an $8.3 billion loan guarantee to build two new nuclear plants.In making the announcement today,he said the move addressed the twin goals of meeting the nation's growing energy needs and cutting carbon pollution that leads to climate change.There's also a political dynamic.Republican lawmakers support nuclear power and oppose the climate change bill.The president said "investing in nuclear energy remains a necessary step." Christopher Paine of the Natural Resources Defense Council says building nuclear plants is the least cost effective way to meet the goals of energy security and address climate change.Power plants take years to build,and they cost billions of dollars to construct.Energy efficiency investments are cheaper and have a faster impact.There's also the question of how to deal with nuclear waste.The president set up a blue ribbon commission to examine the challenge.