Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party; black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria.)
Chuck Baldwin, Founder and Minister of the Crossroad, in a May 2, 2008 article titled "If I Were President" on www.chuckbaldwin.com, stated:
"...[W]e must build more refineries and nuclear power plants. There is no reason why the United States cannot be mostly energy independent." May 2, 2008 Chuck Baldwin
Bob Barr, former US House Representative (R-GA), stated in a June 6, 2008 CNN.com transcript of Glenn Beck titled "Honest Questions with Libertarian Presidential Candidate Bob Barr":
"The French recognized the efficacy of nuclear power for energy, energy production. They're decades ahead of us in terms of putting -- building nuclear power plants. The Japanese are, also. I mean, it`s mighty embarrassing for the U.S. to be taking a seat way at the back of the bus while France is driving it in terms of nuclear power." June 6, 2008 Bob Barr
John McCain, US Senator (R-AZ), in a n article titled "Cheap, Clean, Secure Energy for America" on his official campaign website (accessed Sep. 23, 2008):
"The U.S. has not started construction on a new nuclear power plant in over 30 years. Currently, nuclear power provides 20 percent of our overall energy portfolio. Other countries such as China, India and Russia are looking to increase the role of nuclear power in their energy portfolio and the U.S. should not just look to maintain, but increase its own use. John McCain will put our country on track to construct 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030 with the ultimate goal of eventually constructing 100 new plants." Sep. 23, 2008 John McCain
Cynthia McKinney, former US House Representative (D-GA), issued the following statement through her Press Secretary, John Judge, in a Nov. 2, 2008 email to ProCon.org:
"No. Existing plants should be closed." Nov. 2, 2008 Cynthia McKinney
Ralph Nader, attorney, author, and political activist, stated in a Sep. 11, 2007 article titled "Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer" on www.commondreams.org:
"The atomic power corporations are beating on the doors in Washington to make you guarantee their financing for more giant nuclear plants...
Since 1974, there has not been a filled order for a nuclear power plant. Following the Three Mile Island near-melt down, many spills and shutdowns, then the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, the electric utility bosses found a negative Wall Street and a protesting public in their communities too much to overcome. They dropped nuclear power like it was a radioactive hot potato...
If the government wishes to guarantee energy loans, they can start with loans to residences and small businesses to make their premises much more energy efficient...
Instead, unless the House of Representatives quashes the Senate giveaway, the national security risks inherent in atomic power, complete with growing transportation on the rails and highways of radioactive wastes, will multiply...
It won't take many of you to stop this madness, just as citizens helped stop expansion of nuclear power in the Seventies." Sep. 11, 2007 Ralph Nader
Barack Obama, US Senator (D-IL), in a Sep. 23, 2008 article titled "Barack Obama's Plan to Make America a Global Energy Leader" on his official candidate website, stated:
"Nuclear power represents more than 70 percent of our noncarbon generated electricity. It is unlikely that we can meet our aggressive climate goals if weeliminate nuclear power from the table. However, there is no future for expanded nuclearwithout first addressing four key issues: public right-to-know, security of nuclear fuel andwaste, waste storage, and proliferation." Sep. 23, 2008 Barack Obama
INACTIVE CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear
below in black and white and in alphabetical order by party.)