Dear Energy Bill Conferee,

Taxpayers for Common Sense Action, a non-partisan budget watchdog group, thanks you for keeping the $30 million subsidy for uranium in situ mining out of the energy bill conference report. This provision, which was included in the House-passed energy bill, is an unnecessary piece of corporate welfare for a mature industry that doesn’t need government handouts.

Section 631 of the House energy bill authorizes $30 million in federal spending to aid the uranium industry’s efforts to develop in situ leaching mining technology. The U.S. already has an ample supply of uranium, and does not need to spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars to scour for new sources.

The fifty-year-old nuclear industry has benefited from cradle-to-grave subsidization for too long. These subsidies distort price signals and undermine the natural market forces of the energy industry. Section 631 is yet another example of the government’s wasteful support of nuclear power, an industry that cannot survive on its own.

While we remain very concerned with the rising costs of the energy bill, we are very thankful that you have chosen to keep this giveaway out of the final conference report. We urge you to make sure that it is excluded from the final energy bill. If you would like any more information, please contact Evan Berger at (202) 546-8500 x111.

Sincerely,

Jill Lancelot
President / Co-founder