Nuclear Power and Energy Reform - Panel Discussion

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/08/25/The_New_Republic_The_Politics_of_Green

New Republic Contributing Editor Cass Sunstein, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) discuss the role nuclear power may play in future U.S. energy reform. This excerpt is taken from a panel discussion entitled "The Politics of Green," recorded at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

FORA.tv coverage of the DNC: http://for​a.tv/topic​/democrati​c_conventi​on

The New Republic on FORA.tv: http://fora.tv/partner/new_republic

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In conjunction with the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, The New Republic hosted a panel discussion on environmental issues featuring leaders in Congress and from NGOs who talked about the energy and environmental policy of the next administration.

Cass R. Sunstein is the Felix Frankfurter Chair at the University of Chicago Law School and a Contributing Editor for the New Republic. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Mr. Sunstein has been Samuel Rubin Visiting Professor of Law at Columbia, visiting professor of law at Harvard, vice-chair of the ABA Committee on Separation of Powers and Governmental Organizations, chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools, a member of the ABA Committee on the future of the FTC, and a member of the President's Advisory Committee on the Public Service Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters.

Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is the junior U.S. Senator from New Mexico. He has been in the Senate since 1983 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Bingaman was Attorney General of New Mexico from 1978 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1982, when he defeated Republican incumbent and former astronaut Harrison Schmitt. He was re-elected in 1988, 1994, 2000, and 2006.

Ed Markey is a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Malden, Middlesex County, Mass., July 11, 1946; attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School, Malden, Mass.; graduated from Malden Catholic High School, Malden, Mass., 1964; B.A., Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass., 1968; J.D., Boston College Law School, Chestnut Hill, Mass., 1972; lawyer, private practice; United States Army Reserve, 1968-1973; member of the Massachusetts state house of representatives, 1973-1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Torbert H. Macdonald, reelected to the sixteen succeeding Congresses (November 2, 1976-present).

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[ferrozm]

what the hell would a politician know about energy? They thought ethanol and corn would be a good idea and look where that has got us? Sky-rocketing food prices.

[fubar28]

it takes the french, who recycle their nuclear waste, a year and a half to build a nuclear power plant.

in america, it takes ten years or more.

cut down government regulation and we'll see how obscure nuclear energy becomes.

[ekilopp]

I wonder where that last guy got his numbers from. They strongly conflict all other sources I have right next to me...

[biped19]

Sunstein is a nazi ghoul.

If this country was serious about nuclear power it would be building Thorium reactors.

[MarcinP2]

I need to ask you where did this information come from.

I did a quick research and apparently France is reprocessing uranium from foreign countries.

I hope you do not take your information from Greenpeace or another lobby.

[schusterlehrling]

They TRIED it for more then 25 years and did not do it.

Instead they produce even more waste then before.

Very ingenius solution.

[schusterlehrling]

What?

Three years????

rolf.

stop lying.

there is no st. clause

[schusterlehrling]

It does not work in France.

Actually the rate of waste recycled again is quite low, as they admit.

[schusterlehrling]

lol.

Because you are afraid of the truth?

[MarcinP2]

What webbj123

Uranium can be enriched and turned back into fuel. Thus waste is minimal.

This is what France does. Many european nuclear programs have been a great success for the past 5 decades.

[Sjester101]

schustehrling, I am sure you are only joking and not being serious. Uranium is a fairly common metal in the earths upper crust, and the french have been reprocessing and reusing uranium for nearly 3 decades. You are right, the fission process does transmutate uranium in a fuel pin, but it only transmutates approximately 3 to 5 % of the fuel pin. The remaining 95 to 97% is still perfectly good 3% enriched uranium.