$1.1 billion secured for INEEL reactor

As opposition to the next generation nuclear reactor builds, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said he has secured $1.1 billion for the project, which will be built at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

By Steven Friederich – Journal Writer

The nuclear reactor provision is contained within the $20 billion Energy Bill, which has been in conference committee negotiations since August, undergoing intense negotiations about its exact amount of funding.

Some members wanted to reduce its funding by half while special interests are pushing for its elimination from the bill altogether.

The provision creates the world’s first reactor that would create both hydrogen and nuclear power. It would also be a vital first step for the Department of Energy’s plan to add new nuclear power plants in the U.S. by 2010. That technology would also be shared internationally.

Although the Senate is expected to adjourn soon, the chamber must still approve four appropriation bills before that happens, including budgets for the Department of Agriculture, Departments of Commerce, Justice and State, District of Columbia and Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Also Monday, the Senate approved an $87.5 billion supplemental appropriation for continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan without loans, like Craig originally wanted.

Craig said his conference committee would use the extra time granted to finish its Energy Bill negotiations.

Craig spokesman Mike Tracy said the negotiations are expected to finish up in about three weeks.

House members on the negotiating committee were pushing to cut the $1.1 billion project in half – to $635,000.

House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, R-La., and Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., agreed to the lower figure.

Tracy said the figure was restored to its $1.1 billion late last month.

"Idaho will be proud," Tracy said. "The nuclear provisions are completed."

He added the conference committee is now working on "terms and language dealing with ethanol and oil royalty issues."

National nuclear and government watchdog groups are protesting the next generation reactor. Former Presidential Green Party candidate Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen and Nuclear Information and Resource Service are two of the most vocal of the bunch.

"We don’ like it one bit and we’re doing everything we can to stop it," said Public Citizen Nuclear Energy & Waste organizer Brendan Hoffman.

Public Citizen provides free anti-Energy Bill faxes sent to Congressional officials on its Web site located at stopenergybill.org.

And NIRS has been advertising in magazines like "The Nation" to drum up support.

"We’re well aware and concerned this provision would make a mockery of a clean energy source," said NIRS spokesman Paul Gunter. "The fact this technology would extend to other countries makes it a very dangerous project."

Additionally, several editorials in papers from coast to coast, including the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times called Craig’s nuclear reactor cogeneration project "excessive" and "pork."

"If it had been in their state, it wouldn’t have been pork," Tracy said. "The thing they don’t understand is the project isn’t just about production, it’s about research. Our region of the country, southeast Idaho will become a scientific research hub. It doesn’t matter what the project is to them, if they call it pork in their own minds, then it is."

Nuclear reactor funding

– What: Funding for next generation nuclear reactor. An agreement had been reached to slash funding, though Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said he now has the full $1.1 billion slated.

– What’s next: Negotiations continue for the next three weeks in a closed-door conference committee. The full House and Senate must then concur on the committee’s results, however, some democrats are threatening a filibuster, which could result in no vote at all.

Steven Friederich is a county, state and federal political reporter for the Journal. He can be reached at (208) 239-6001 or by e-mail at [email protected].

http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2003/11/04/news/local/news02.txt