Hispanics Join in Effort to Promote Nuclear Power as Alternative Home Energy Source
By Pearl Brooks

Hispanic organizations and leaders are trying to raise awareness about the benefits of nuclear energy as an alternative source to coal and fuel-powered energy and its impact on the Latino community.

Two dozen Hispanic groups belong to the Clean and Safe Energy (CASEnergy) Coalition, comprised of 747 organizations. Several Hispanic public officials are also members.

“This issue has to be better conveyed to the country. People are still scared from the film, The China Syndrome, Three Mile Island accident and Chernobyl disaster. There is a long way to gaining more converts,” said Florida
House Rep. Luis García (D), a member of the CASEnergy Coalition.

Gabriela Lemus, executive director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, another member of the coalition, said, “Latino issues need to be addressed and we need to be at the table when these issues are addressed.”

In 2002 more than seven out of ten Hispanics (71%) lived in counties that violated federal air pollution standards for one or more pollutants, according to LCLAA. Adding to that, 39% of the Latino population live within 30 miles of a power plant.

“Everyone will be adversely impacted to a point, but our concern is that it’s not everything dumped into our backyards and our laps,” said Lemus. “We don’t want trucks running through these areas.”

With the shift to nuclear energy, changes in expenses and who will bear those costs will be a game of tag between the utility companies, government and consumers, according to Lemus.

“The initial investment in recyclable nuclear energy will be significant. In the short term, electricity will cost $900 to $1,500 per home, but in the long term, the cost of generating energy goes down,” Lemus said. “The government would have to provide credits to those who cannot afford the hike in electricity prices at the start of this change to nuclear energy. It is likely immigrants would not be included in the credits.”  

Lemus added that besides energy-cost savings in the long run, building nuclear and recycling-energy plants would increase U.S. manufacturing jobs.

“Latinos have a unique opportunity,” she said. “Communities need to be aware that these new opportunities exist.”
Laura Narváiz, spokesperson of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), also a member of the CASEnergy Coalition, said that although low-wage jobs are going overseas, there are good manufacturing opportunities here at home.

“Baby boomers are retiring and the work place is getting technologically advanced,” Narváiz said. “We need Hispanics and people from other different backgrounds because there is a shortage of qualified people for manufacturing-job openings.”

Narváiz said two-year associate’s degrees or manufacturing certificates to meet requirements of some of these jobs can be obtained.

“You can also get manufacturing skills at your local technological school, and it is not expensive,” she said.

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