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Thursday, Oct 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

SAVE THE NUKES! Assembly and Criticality
Who: Pro-nuclear environmentalists from all over the country.

What: Hone your advocacy skills, help build a movement, and take direct action to save Clinton and Quad Cities Nuclear Plants.

Why: Because nuclear power is in crisis, and we need a unified movement to protect the planet from climate change while lifting all people out of poverty.

Where: The Congress Plaza Hotel — 520 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL

When: 5 pm on Saturday, October 23rd 5:30 PM October 24 2 PM

Clinton and Quad Cities are at Risk —
Nuclear is the only source of clean power to have declined in absolute terms over the last 20 years. The reason is the same everywhere: people fear nuclear. The nuclear establishment (government, academic and industry) has tried and failed for several decades to address public concerns. Over a decade ago, the nuclear establishment, discouraged by its failures, largely withdrew from public engagement. For decades, anyone who dared to speak of the environmental benefits of nuclear energy was branded as an industry shill.

The Boston Tea Party. Gandhi’s Salt March. The Civil Rights March on Washington. Stonewall. These protests helped win freedom and fairness for millions of people. [Emphasis added.]

You gotta be kidding me.

They even have their own fight song: “The Battle Hymn of the Atom.”

Sheesh.

* This same group is giving away goodies at UIUC today…

The American Nuclear Society & Women in Nuclear University of Illinois Student Sections will be out on the Quad giving info about nuclear power, the state of energy in the U.S., and collecting survey data on the public opinions of UIUC students.

Thursday 10/20! There will be a prizes for participation. You could be selected to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a $25 DD giftcard and a Nuclear T-shirt!!

A nuclear t-shirt. Just what I’ve always wanted.

41 Comments

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:40 pm:
Need to have Vault Boy handing out Nuka-Cola for us Fallout nerds.

- SportShoz - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Talk about drinking the nuclear flavored Kool-Aid.

How exactly is bailing out corporate behemoth Exelon help “lifting all people out of poverty”?

- Honeybear - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
Are they starting the parade at the Fieldhouse at University of Chicago?

- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
This has to be a gag — and a hilarious one at that.

I mean, Gandhi, Civil Rights and Stonewall? That can’t possibly be anything but satire.

The whale jumping in front of the nuke is a nice touch, too.

- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:53 pm:
Gandhi, Mandela, King… amateurs.

–The Battle Hymn of the Atom–

Glowing, Glowing Hallelujah.

- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:54 pm:
Time to call up Smilin’ Joe Fission! http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Smilin’_Joe_Fission

- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
From the Battle Hymn of the Atom:

“Renewables alone portend a future filled with pain,
A hotter planet as they must be partnered with Methane.
This vision over fission would be patently insane
Have Nuclear Show the Way!”

Now, that’s mad genius.

- Nobody Sent - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:05 pm:
WOW - just WOW!
And people are right to fear nuclear - how much it costs is scary, the required security at nuclear facilities is scary (ever toured one?), the fact that the waste poses a threat to you and generations of your descendants is scary, and the fact that proponents (Exelon) create promotional campaigns like this one is scary.

- A guy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
A nuclear T-Shirt. Oy.
Does it glow in the dark? Does it disintegrate on skin contact?
When you get rid of it, do you have to send it to Yucca Mountain?

That’s some weird stuff.

- lake county democrat - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
This group may be loony, but nuclear power is a serious, serious issue if we want to do something meaningful about global warming (absent unforeseen technical innovation). Unless you really trust these 2 most recent agreements that rely on 1) China reducing greenhouse emmisions in 10 years (after first being permitted to raise them) and 2) India’s growing lower middle class giving up air conditioning.

- Anon221 - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:18 pm:
Save the Nukes with Pizza and Beer! (from the action alert)

For Rauner… make sure it’s Stag

- Captain Illini - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
Meh? I already have a nuclear t-shirt…it’s this black T with white lettering that basically tells you to go ____ yourself that a friend gave me as a joke. Every time I even touch that shirt, my wife goes three mile island on me!

- Supernintendo chalmers - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
It’s pronounced nuke-u-lar. Nuke-u-lar.

- yeah - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
“Nuclear is the only source of clean power…”
Myself and the folks in Fukashima and Chernobyl are interested in what “clean” means?

- G'Kar - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
Why do they think Clinton needs to be saved? After last night’s debate she seems to be ready to coast to the White House. Or am I confused?/s

- Senator Clay Davis - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
The action at UIUC may be a violation of the IL Lobbyist Registration Act. It’s unlawful to pay someone to communicate a political position without reporting it. From the act:

(b) It is a violation of this Act to engage in lobbying or to employ any person for the purpose of lobbying who is not registered with the Office of the Secretary of State, except upon condition that the person register and the person does in fact register within 2 business days after being employed or retained for lobbying services.

(d) “Compensation” means any money, thing of value or financial benefits received or to be received in return for services rendered or to be rendered, for lobbying as defined in subsection (e).

(e) “Lobby” and “lobbying” means any communication with an official of the executive or legislative branch of State government as defined in subsection (c) for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action.

Can somebody notify the SOS Index Department?

- Illinois Bob - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
It’s sad that they have to resort to this for people to make a sound decision, but that’s part and parcel of Illinois.

The simple facts are that currently the generation capacity on the grid is mostly less expensive NG and coal based, but coal will soon be legislated out of business if HRC is elected and NG prices will spike if the feds regulate fracking out of business, as HRC has inferred she might have done after she’s elected.

Any growth of industry in Illinois will be dependent on a steady, reliable and affordable energy supply. Illinois has the nuke infrastructure to provide that, while Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio don’t.

Letting those nukes close with the impending spike in energy prices and decreased availability once Hillary is elected, losing our ONE advantage over the competition, would just be SOOOOOOO Illinois. Sad.

In Arizona we have abundant clean nuke power from Palo Verde stations and massive hydro supply ,unless California keeps stealing Colorado River water to grow almonds and water Beverly Hills lawns.

There’s room for all that industry to come here, folks…WELCOME!

- illini97 - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Look, I’m staunchly pro-nuclear power. And, to me, this bit is crazy. Have they heard the term “hyperbole?”

- Morning Coffee - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Exelon should get their money back from this astroturf group as this is political malpractice. Of course, this is the same California group that registered as a lobbyist on the day of the Senate Energy committee in May, had their director offer testimony, and said director literally jogged from the witness room into a waiting car being driven by…wait for it… an Exelon lobbyist.

Of course, knowing Exelon they’ll shift this cost over to ComEd and have them try to recover it in ratebase.

- I'm not making this up... - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
Battle Hymn of the Atom

Verse
Mine eyes have seen the consequence of burning so much coal
The filthy smoke on which we choke exacts a tragic toll
But now we have technologies to make the planet whole
And Nuclear leads the way

Chorus
Power, power for the people
Power, power for the people
Power, power for the people
The Atom Makes us Strong

Verse
Renewables alone portend a future filled with pain,
A hotter planet as they must be partnered with Methane.
This vision over fission would be patently insane
Have Nuclear Show the Way

Verse
The ice caps are all melting, as the water levels rise
The ocean’s getting sicker. Hear the bird and mammal cries.
Th’environment’s at risk from Anti-Nukes who spew their lies
But the truth is marching now!

Verse
Power that is always on, affordable and clean.
Enough to last a million years just think what that would mean:
Our needs and aspirations met, no smokestacks to be seen.
And Nuclear shows the way.

- Timmeh - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
=Need to have Vault Boy handing out Nuka-Cola for us Fallout nerds.=

I would enjoy a “Fallout: Central Illinois”, as long as it stays a video game.

- Amalia - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
the astroturf glows in the dark!

- RIJ - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:41 pm:
Greedy pigs tend to wrap themselves in the flag when trying to pull a fast one.

- Michael Shellenberger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:57 pm:
Dear Rich,

Thanks for posting the information about our event, but I’m not sure what the basis of your attack is.

Is it that you don’t think nuclear power is needed for clean air and climate mitigation? If so, why not make a substantive argument?

Is it that you don’t think nuclear power, which is excluded from state renewable energy mandates, and gets a fraction of federal subsidies that wind and solar get, isn’t suffering from discriminatory policies? If so, what counter-evidence do you offer?

As background, Environmental Progress, the organization I founded on January 1, 2016. Our science advisors include the climate scientist James Hansen and a roster of well-regarded scientists. We are independent of any energy interests, and we list all of our donors on our web site.

http://www.environmentalprogress.org/why-what-how/

By contrast, Sierra Club, NRDC, and Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) in Illinois either take money from, or invest in, fossil fuels, even as they seek to shut down our largest source (60%) of our clean power.

We are excited to be coming together with other pro-nuclear environmentalists in Illinois. On Monday we will March for Clean Power, with the protest starting at Invenergy, a natural gas company that funds ELPC to kill nuclear power plants.

According to Lancet and every major study, nuclear is the safest way to make reliable electricity.

I know it’s hard to rethink our long-held positions — it certainly was for me. I used to believe all sorts of wrong things about nuclear, and it was only after coming to grips with the limits of wind and solar (especially in places like Illinois) that I re-thought my position on nuclear.

I hope you’ll consider rethinking your view, and engaging in a substantive and civil way with people you disagree with.

Sincerely,

Michael Shellenberger
President
Environmental Progress

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:02 pm:
===I’m not sure what the basis of your attack is===

A couple of sarcastic remarks is an attack?

Even Ghandi could take a joke, dude.

- Anon221 - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:05 pm:
You can drink the Kool-Aide (intentional), Michael. I’ll would rather abstain. And, no , I won’t debate you, so I hope you won’t be disappointed if you try to convert me. I’m not a fan of nuclear evangelism.

- Michael Shellenberger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:10 pm:
Aren’t jokes supposed to be funny?

- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:22 pm:
So Michael, I guess you’re not doing a bit. I hope you can understand why I thought you were.

See, in Illinois, you don’t immediately associate Exelon wheeling-and-dealing under the Dome with Civil Rights, or Stonewall or Gandhi (let’s hope the Jacobs boys don’t start sporting home-spun robes).

I guess we’re just parochial; can’t see the big picture.

But so we could better understand this great crusade, perhaps you could explain how many millions of people will be lifted out of poverty by Illinois ratepayers bailing out Exelon’s nukes?

Keep in mind, in 2015, Exelon got lifted up pretty, pretty, pretty good by $2.2 billion in net income.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:23 pm:
Excuse me, $2.2 billion in net income, 2015.

- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:29 pm:
===Aren’t jokes supposed to be funny? ===

And that’s your whole problem right there, bub.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:35 pm:
Hey Michael,

If you actually care about climate change, Invenergy seems like a pretty strange target since they’ve developed about 8,000 megawatts of renewables and storage. That’s an awful lot of carbon-free power. Might you be more concerned with helping Exelon and less concerned with stopping climate change?

- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 7:10 pm:
===ope you’ll consider rethinking your view, and engaging in a substantive and civil way with people you disagree with===

Hmm…

===The Boston Tea Party. Gandhi’s Salt March. The Civil Rights March on Washington. Stonewall. These protests helped win freedom and fairness for millions of people.===

How does this NOT call for a lil joshing…

Even WonkaVision stopped at “changing the world”…

I’ll leave you with the immortal words of another Professor.. Harold Hill who once rallied a small Iowa town;

“Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!”

I thank you.

- Aristidis Loumis - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 8:54 pm:
No one was compensated for voicing their opinions to local government! People just had to listen and learn about Nuclear energy as a viable energy source and part of the solution to changing climate in Illinois. They were not compensated for voicing their opinions. People who ended up leaving and we’re anti-nuclear were entered as well, all they had to do was listen. No one was told “You will win if you contact local legislature.” People were free to do that of their own accord.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 9:49 pm:
Death is coming for us all.

- Illinois Jane - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 10:06 pm:
Nuclear power is currently the largest clean energy source in Illinois and losing the two nuclear power stations will have a significant impact on the state. Illinois simply cannot afford to lose these plants. Clinton’s economic impact to the state alone is nearly $700 million and over 2,000 highly skilled workers would be out of jobs between both plants. They fund a majority of local budgets such as education. If you remove the plants, you remove valuable resources on the local and state level. Aside from the risk to economic security, these sites also produce 24/7, baseload clean energy. Look what happened in Vermont when Vermont Yankee closed down. The New England area saw a 2 million metric ton rise in carbon emissions. If Illinois plans to achieve a 26% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 as the Clean Power Plan states, then nuclear must be part of the solution. Consider seriously what’s at stake here.

- Is this page actual conspiracy theorists - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 10:10 pm:
You guys should really follow your own advice about doing your best to be smart when commenting. Sounds like most of you needed to attend this booth, considering your ass cracks are your main source of information.

- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 10:23 pm:
Front group? They’re students . . . doesn’t get more grass roots than that.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 10:53 pm:
–Consider seriously what’s at stake here.–

Paying twice for nuke plants to a company that made $2.2. billion in profits last year?

Not our first rodeo around here, with Exelon’s shakedown threats.

- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 11:09 pm:
AZ Bob, you sure are busy spending other people’s money.

Illinoisans have to subsidize old plants that Exelon says aren’t competitive in the marketplace? What are you, some kind of commie?

I guess that just comes from your sense of entitlement: living in the desert –AC, watered fairways, swimming pools — courtesy of the federal government subsidizing your unnatural lifestyle with massive spending on power and water projects.

I mean, left to yourselves, you guys just couldn’t hack it out there. SAD!

- Concerned - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:35 am:
Sorry to hear that. I guess if nuclear shuts down you will see the results are fact, not threats. I am concerned for the future, that’s all.

- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 6:58 am:
The juvenile comment at 12:03 is not from me. Must be someone a little tired and cranky from their own version of Gandhi’s salt march.

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