Energy Secretary Chu Says No Taxpayer-Backed Money for Nuke Plant Loans Unless Plants Are Approved

U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming, December 22, 2009
http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases_2008?id=0186#ma...
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu responded to Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) on questions about the nuclear energy loan guarantee program, especially reactors that could be awarded taxpayer-backed loans even when they have not received full approval for safety. Secretary Chu says in his response that "conditional commitments" could be made, but that "no [loan] guarantee will be issued with respect to a specific project and technology until the design is certified by the NRC and the [construction and operating license] has been issued." DOE will soon announce the winners of $18.5 billion in taxpayer-backed loan guarantees to the nuclear energy industry.

http://markey.house.gov/docs/doeresponse.pdf