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布希2008大幅刪減環境預算 儲備核能發展

2007年02月08日
摘譯自2007年2月5日ENS美國華府報導;林盈秀編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美國總統布希對閣員介紹他的核能發展預算構想 照片來源: The White House美國總統布希5日送交2008會計年度預算共2.9兆美元,大幅增長國防費用,但縮減保育計劃經費。布希預估來年稅收將會增加,且開放極地野保區石油開採。而布希政府表示,減少對進口石油的依賴以及加強鼓勵清潔能源技術的運用,是能源預算案的重要核心。

在能源部門的243億美元預算中,布希要求國會通過為加速煤、核能及再生能源生產技術研究的27億美元,這筆預算也包含對高效能汽車及生質燃料的發展研究。

美國能源部長伯德曼(Samuel Bodman)表示:「藉由能源來源多樣化,及減少對國外能源的依賴,這份預算是為增強我國能源安全。」

布希編列1.14億美元預算支持美國核能工業的擴建計劃,及4.05億美元在「全球核子夥伴關係計劃」(GNEP)上。根據這個計劃,美國可以建造核子燃料的再加工工廠,並販賣原子爐燃料給沒有能力製造核能燃料的國家。

美國參議院環境暨公共工程委員會主席、加州民主黨代表鮑克瑟(Barbara Boxer)5日失望表示,布希總統的預算案,未能優先考量美國人民權益,而真正用途則是伊拉克戰爭。

鮑克瑟指出:「美國人民2006年11月投票希望能有所改變,而總統不但沒有接受人民心聲,卻給予我們更多和以往相同的東西——為這場無止盡的戰爭開出空白支票;然而對真正重要的國家優先考量,像是教育、健康醫療、能源自主、地方執法強化,及對抗全球暖化威脅上的花費,卻極盡小氣。」

Bush Budget Slashes Environment, Funds Nuclear Development
WASHINGTON, DC, February 5, 2007 (ENS)

President George W. Bush today sent Congress a $2.9 trillion budget package for fiscal year 2008 that includes big increases for defense spending, cuts in conservation programs and assumptions that tax revenues will increase and that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be leased for oil and gas development. Yet the administration said reducing U.S. dependence on petroleum imports and expanding incentives for clean energy technologies are central to the President's energy budget proposal.

As part of $24.3 billion funding request for the Energy Department, the president is asking Congress to provide $2.7 billion to accelerate research into power generation technologies based on coal, nuclear energy and renewable sources, as well as the development of efficient vehicles and biofuels.

"This budget builds on our commitment to strengthen our nation’s energy security by diversifying our energy resources and reducing our reliance on foreign sources of energy," said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman.

The president is requesting $114 million to support the planned expansion of the U.S. nuclear power industry and $405 million for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, GNEP. Under this program, the United States would build a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility and sell fuel for nuclear reactors to nations that do not have the technology to manufacture their own nuclear fuel.

Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee today expressed disappointment in the president's budget for failing to set the right priorities for the American people and obscuring the true costs of the war in Iraq.

"The American people voted for change last November, but instead of listening to them, the president is giving us more of the same - a blank check for this endless war and penny-pinching for critical domestic priorities like education, health care, energy independence, support for local law enforcement, and combating the threat of global warming," said Boxer.

全文及圖片詳見 ENS報導

作者

林盈秀

林盈秀,財務金融系畢業,曾任職於綠建築顧問公司。2019年獲得台達電英國環境獎學金後,於英國里茲大學攻讀企業永續碩士。目前研究主題為永續金融與氣候金融。

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.