George Bush: America needs to aggressively spread nuclear power

18.12.2007 // Strana.ru

President Bush: America needs to aggressively spread nuclear power

If America wants to solve its dependency on foreign sources or wants to solve its environmental — deal with environmental concerns, we need to aggressively spread nuclear power, US President George Bush said while discussing economy in Fredericksburg (Virginia).

“If you’re generally an environmentalist, if you’re worried about greenhouse gases, then you need to be in the forefront of supporting nuclear power plants. If you’re worried about whether or not we can continue to have the electricity necessary to foster economic growth and vitality, you ought to be for nuclear power. I know that’s not necessarily politically correct in some circles, but I believe the engineering is safe and I know we can come up with ways to dispose of the waste in a safe way,” Bush said.

Concerning the use of oil Bush said: “We’re too dependent on oil from overseas. Dependency on oil creates economic security issues and national security issues and environmental issues.

“So, I’ve proposed that we reduce gasoline usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years by using alternative fuels.  One of these days, the scientists tell me — and I believe — that we’ll be able to manufacture fuel for your automobiles from switchgrass or biomass or wood chips. And then all of a sudden, if you really think about it and are optimistic about America’s capacity to use technology to change our way of life, then all of a sudden you begin to see the rationale for saying that we can reduce gasoline usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years. I believe it’s coming, I really do.”

“I also believe that a part of that mix is going to be new battery technologies that will enable you to drive the first 40 miles on electricity. And for those of you who are worried about the size of the vehicle, it won’t look like a golf cart. It will be a normal size vehicle.”