Radio Address by the President to the Nation, 02-18-06

WhiteHouse.gov ^ | 02-18-06 | George W. Bush

[Salvation]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 18, 2006

President's Radio Address

     Audio
     

     Audio
     

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This coming week, I will visit Wisconsin, Michigan, and Colorado, to discuss our strategy to ensure that America has affordable, reliable, and secure sources of energy. The best way to meet our growing energy needs is through advances in technology. So in my State of the Union Address, I announced the Advanced Energy Initiative. We will pursue promising technologies that will transform how we power our vehicles, businesses, and homes -- so we can reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy.

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This morning, I want to speak to you about one part of this initiative: our plans to expand the use of safe and clean nuclear power. Nuclear power generates large amounts of low-cost electricity without emitting air pollution or greenhouse gases. Yet nuclear power now produces only about 20 percent of America's electricity. It has the potential to play an even greater role. For example, over the past three decades, France has built 58 nuclear power plants and now gets more than 78 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. Yet here in America, we have not ordered a new nuclear power plant since the 1970s. So last summer I signed energy legislation that offered incentives to encourage the building of new nuclear plants in America. Our goal is to start the construction of new nuclear power plants by the end of this decade.

As America and other nations build more nuclear power plants, we must work together to address two challenges: We must dispose of nuclear waste safely, and we must keep nuclear technology and material out of the hands of terrorist networks and terrorist states.

To meet these challenges, my Administration has announced a bold new proposal called the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. Under this partnership, America will work with nations that have advanced civilian nuclear energy programs, such as France, Japan, and Russia. Together, we will develop and deploy innovative, advanced reactors and new methods to recycle spent nuclear fuel. This will allow us to produce more energy, while dramatically reducing the amount of nuclear waste and eliminating the nuclear byproducts that unstable regimes or terrorists could use to make weapons.

As these technologies are developed, we will work with our partners to help developing countries meet their growing energy needs by providing them with small-scale reactors that will be secure and cost-effective. We will also ensure that these developing nations have a reliable nuclear fuel supply. In exchange, these countries would agree to use nuclear power only for civilian purposes and forego uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities that can be used to develop nuclear weapons. My new budget includes $250 million to launch this initiative. By working with other nations under the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, we can provide the cheap, safe, and clean energy that growing economies need, while reducing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

As we expand our use of nuclear power, we're also pursuing a broader strategy to meet our energy needs. We're investing in technologies like solar and wind power and clean coal to power our homes and businesses. We're also investing in new car technologies like plug-in hybrid cars and in alternative fuels for automobiles like ethanol and biodiesel.

Transforming our energy supply will demand creativity and determination, and America has these qualities in abundance. Our Nation will continue to lead the world in innovation and technology. And by building a global partnership to spread the benefits of nuclear power, we'll create a safer, cleaner, and more prosperous world for future generations.

Thank you for listening.

END

[Salvation]

For your reading pleasure as well as your comments!

[Salvation]

Radio Address Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Radio Address Ping List.

[Salvation]

Will the higher gas prices cause the sheeple to budge on the idea of nuclear energy?

[ClaireSolt]

I am very glad he is talking about this. It is a subject he knows a lot about and has worked hard on. Dems were going to try run on the need for more research, but Bush owns this and I am glad he is claiming it.

[Earthdweller]

Thanks for the ping Salvation.

[devolve]

To: MoHam
                                   

[mylife]

The US is moving forward with GNEP regardless of what the sheeple think.
Its in the works as we speak.
Pebblebed reators hold none of the risks of the old reactors at diablo canyon or 3 mile island.
The 30 year ban on nuclear reactors has hurt this country.
The entire country of france is run on nuclear power

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

The President's Weekly Radio address is also available as a podcast on iTunes. If you have iTunes, use this link.

You can download individual addresses or subscribe for free!

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

After reading the Dubai Ports national security concerns I thought, as most did, about the same rejectors who do not fear terrorism.

Once again we are confronted with the same party which promoted nuclear energy for the rest of the world yet remain unwilling to do so in America.

Liberalism does not enhance anyone's future, it only serves to promote stagnation.

[Salvation]

Thanks for the background info there.

The dimocrats need to be challenged on this.

[Salvation]

Thanks for 911 reminder.

[Salvation]

Thanks for your input. Pertinent facts indeed.

[Salvation]

I wasn't aware of that. Is it OK if I copy that to future Radio Address threads?

[RightWhale]

He talked about nuclear power because he likes to say nukular.

[Salvation]

**Liberalism does not enhance anyone's future, it only serves to promote stagnation.**

Excellent line. I may borrow it occasionally.

[blackie]

More nuclear energy!

Be Ever Vigilant!

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

I don't see any problem posting the link. I just subscribed this morning so I will get the radio address as a podcast on my iPod each week.

[RobFromGa]

He needs to do an address from ANWR and stand there in the barren wasteland and say he wants to allow drilling in this itsy tiny bit of this barren wasteland that has already been set aside for oil exploration and development.

Thats the only way the Press will have no choice but to show pictures of ANWR.

[Salvation]

That would be great! Thanks!

[Salvation]

It would be a challenge, but it's not impossible. More power to W if he does do it!