December 15, 2008

 Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today after President-elect Obama nominated Dr. Steven Chu to be Secretary of Energy:

"Steven Chu is an extremely accomplished scientist and strong choice to lead America into a more energy-independent future.  He has shown that he can work beyond the confines of a national lab to tackle real-world issues, and his expertise will greatly benefit our country.

"I have been impressed by his command and understanding of the serious energy and global warming problems we face, which is why I brought him to the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas this summer.  I am confident that Dr. Chu will transform the Department of Energy into a smart and progressive weapon against our addiction to oil, making our economy vastly more energy efficient and bringing about a safer future.

"Dr. Chu also knows, like most Nevadans, that Yucca Mountain is not a viable solution for dumping and dealing with nuclear waste.

"I look forward to confirming Dr. Chu as quickly as possible."

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