One of the reasons that nuclear power has become the solution is that Americans have realized that our current energy sources are countries that are largely unfriendly to America and could pull the plug on us at any time. Not only are they not our friends, many of them offer a real threat to America's security--yet our dollars continue to underwrite their terrorist attacks. Americans are pushing for domestic energy.

Nuclear seems like a good option--except it, too, currently sends our dollars overseas to an increasingly hostile government. Most people do not realize that nuclear power's source material is uranium. Fewer, still, know that with the current quantity of nuclear power plants we have in America, ninety percent of the uranium used is imported with Russia as the single largest supplier. Many new nuclear power plants are planned throughout America.

Switching from an energy source from the Middle East and Venezuela to one from Russia is like simply swapping boogey men.

But it doesn't have to be this way. New Mexico has the potential to become an energy leader--helping to generate all the clean energy America needs!

New Mexico has the nation's largest known recoverable uranium resource--in the Grants/Gallup area.

America needs the energy. The region needs the economic development. Technology has changed. It sounds like a match made in heaven. However, there is opposition. There are a lot of misunderstandings and past mistakes that are preventing America from getting the energy it needs and blocking much needed jobs and regional income.

It is for this reason that CARE (Citizen's Alliance for Responsible Energy) has put together this special eight-week energy education series on KMIN--which debuted Thursday, September 25 at 10:00 am, CARE has organized this interactive program addressing the topics of concern to the local citizens and featuring noted experts who can answer your specific questions.

The schedule for the eight week program is:

September 25: Nuclear/Uranium Basics
October 2: Health/Water Issues
October 9: ISR Mining
October 16: Geology
October 23: Government Impacts and Impediments
October 30: Mining Improvements
November 6: Legacy/Reclamation Issues
November 13: Economic Impact

• Uranium Mining's Economic Impact
  Dr. James Peach
  Care - 11/13/2008
  
  Dr. James Peach is one of two principal investigators in the uranium mining and milling economic impact study done by the Arrowhead Center at NMSU. He is Regents Professor of Economics and International Business at NMSU's College of Business. He is also called on to advise the NM Legislature on a variety of statewide, national and international issues, including the recent global financial crisis. He is highly regarded by the NM Legislature, and the Dept. of Economic Development.
  
  
• Legacy and Reclamation Issues
  Terry Fletcher
  Care - 11/6/2008
  
  Terry started his mining career with Kerr McGee in 1968 as an underground electrician and has worked as supervisor of the electrical and maintenance divisions. He has been in charge of reclamation activities since 1989, reclaiming 11 mines and 33 million tons of tailings, at a cost in excess of $100 M. Currently, Terry is the President of Rio Algom Mining, LLC, and is serving his second term as President of New Mexico Mining Association. He holds a BS in electrical engineering and computer science and has more than 40 years of mining experience.
  
  
• Legacy and Reclamation Issues--Part 2
  Terry Fletcher
  Care - 11/6/2008
  
  
  
  
• Government Impacts and Impediments on Uranium Production and Nuclear Energy
  Jon Indall
  CARE - 10/23/2008
  
  Jon Indall has spent the last 40 years focused on uranium mining and nuclear energy. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a JD in 1974 and has been practicing with Comeau Maldegen Templeman and Indall since 1978. His practice has been primarily related to representing uranium companies. He is the counsel for the Uranium Producers of America that promotes the viability of the domestic uranium industry.
  
  
• Geology
  Virginia McLemore, Ph.D.
  CARE - 10/16/2008
  
  Virginia McLemore has been with New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources since 1980 and has served as a faculty member for Earth and Environmental Science Department and Mineral Engineering Department at New Mexico Tech for more than ten years. Some of her areas of expertise are: mineral resources in New Mexico (geology, origin, resource potential, water resources, environmental assessment, reclamation), and geology and history of mining districts in New Mexico (impacts on water resources). She will discus the geological aspects of uranium and respond to comments declaring that mining should be done elsewhere.
  
  
• ISR Mining
  Richard A. Van Horn
  CARE - 10/9/2008
  
  Richard A. Van Horn, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Uranium Resources, Inc.. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining URI, he spent three years with Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. as General Manager - Colorado Plateau Operations, with responsibility for the daily management of and planning for the mining activities on the Colorado Plateau. Before his work at Energy Fuels Nuclear, Rick spent 18 years with Union Carbide Corporation, where he worked in finance and operations for that company's worldwide mining and metals business. From 1990 to 1994, he was Director of Operations of UMETCO Minerals Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Carbide, and was responsible for all operating aspects of UMETCO's uranium and vanadium business on the Colorado Plateau. Rick graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with an Engineer of Mines degree in 1973.
  
  Rick will explain mining practices-- especially in-situ recovery (ISR).
  
  
• Health Water Issues
  Steve Brown
  CARE - 10/2/2008
  
  The guest for the October 2 edition of CARE's Energy Education Effort was Steve Brown, a board certified health physicist and diplomat of the American Academy of Health Physics with over 35 years of nuclear industry experience. He is recognized as an expert in environmental, regulatory, safety and health aspects of Uranium processing facilities and of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material and is a member of national and international advisory committees in the areas of environmental, safety and health aspects of Uranium fuel cycle facilities and in nuclear waste management.
  Steve took questions from the public on the health concerns surrounding uranium mining.
  
  
• Nuclear Power Basics/ Uranium Mining
  Bill Stratton and Don Peterson
  CARE - 9/25/2008
  
  Guests for the first week of CARE's Energy Education Effort were Bill Stratton and Don Peterson (complete information on our experts can be found below) from Los Alamos Education Group. They will took questions from the public on the basics of uranium and nuclear power.
  
  Bill Stratton has a PhD from the University of Minnesota. He is a retired reactor safety expert with extensive advisory service to the Nuclear Regulatory Commision. As a consultant to the President's Kemeny Commission, he was instrumental in explaining the minimal radiation release from Three Mile Island.
  
  Don Petersen has a PhD from the University of Chicago. He is a retired radiation biologist involved with health effects of radiation, neutron dosimetry and effects of neutrons and alpha particles. He has had first hand experience with investigation, description and reporting of radiation accidents involving injury and fatality.