The Day After the Day After

Two days beyond the 2006 midterm elections, what have we learned and what does it mean for the future of nuclear energy?

The Democrats have captured the House of Representatives and are expected to elect the first female Speaker in this country's history, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California.

Nuclear power has enjoyed bipartisan support in the House in the past, witnessed by broad backing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The industry will continue to work with both sides of the aisle and, with a new crop of legislators coming to the nation's Capitol, there will be new opportunities to share information about the importance of nuclear power in increasing energy independence and supporting economic security.

The makeup of the Senate is essentially assured, as Virginia Democrat Jim Webb -- who supports "properly constructed nuclear power" --leads Republican George Allen by over 7000 votes. Allen is expected to concede at a 3 pm news conference today, so his opponent will pick up this seat and with it the Democrats the Senate.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada is the all but anointed new leader of the upper chamber. Keeping in mind his past support of nuclear energy, the industry is looking forward to building a positive relationship with the expected new Senate Majority Leader and working with him in the future.

As for predictions from the pundits, Democratic strategist and frequent CNN analyst Donna Brazile said she expects the House to pay considerable attention to alternative energy sources during the next session of Congress. At a post-election briefing held in Washington, DC yesterday, she encouraged the industry to actively engage the new Congress and share how nuclear power can play a role in future energy policy.

In the near term, President Bush said today that he would like Congress to act on bipartisan energy legislation before the end of the year.

Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Power, Electricity, Environment, Energy, Politics, Technology, 2006 Elections, Jim Webb, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi