1. Overhaul the Federal Nuclear Loan Guarantee Program so that domestic mining companies such as UR-Energy (URG) and Uranerz (URZ), construction companies such asShaw Group (SHAW) and ABB (ABB), and component suppliers are given reasonable and competitive repayment loans.
2. Take advantage of public sentiment, which is rising in favor of the expansion of nuclear energy to power our growing need for electricity. This outreach will help to relieve our dependence on foreign fossil fuels. Nuclear can provide an inexpensive source of energy for many years for the benefit of our homes, businesses, and the environment.
3. Build new plants, which will create many high-paying, skilled-labor jobs in mining, plant construction, engineering, and ancillary industries which make components that go into these facilities.
4. Institute a national reawakening, which would make us competitors internationally and help to reduce our growing trade deficits.
5. Streamline federal laws that will act to eliminate red tape and bureaucratic boondoggling that are now hindering the growth of these vital industries. For example, Duke Energy(DUK) proposed the purchase of Progress Energy (PGN), a deal that would create the nation's largest utility. Duke has stated that it would like to build new nuclear plants, adding to the 12 units at seven sites in the Carolinas and Florida. It is actively seeking regulatory approval to build six new Westinghouse reactors. Such approval should be accelerated.
6. Develop new methods of nuclear waste disposal in the US. The French have been pioneers in this area; for years they have been successfully recycling nuclear waste for usable energy through Areva Corportion. It is time to disarm the critics of nuclear energy by changing the negative mindset resulting from Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
7. Refute critics of these new programs who say they are too costly. I maintain they would pay for themselves in new jobs for plant construction, engineering, and mine development.
A final note should be mentioned concerning the private dinner held by President Obama of the US and President Hu of China.