Front and Center
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Nuclear Power and the Threat
to Drinking Water

The Fukushima nuclear disaster led to warnings against the consumption of drinking water by vulnerable people as far away as Tokyo, which draws its water from sources 130 miles from the stricken plant.

Frontier Group's report, Too Close to Home, illustrates the dangers posed should a similar accident occur on U.S. soil. Using previously unpublished data, the report finds that 49 million Americans receive their drinking water from systems with intakes within 50 miles of a nuclear power plant - the radius the Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses to assess risk to food and water supplies. The report also highlights the dangers posed by widespread tritium contamination of groundwater around nuclear plants and identifies the U.S. waterways that risk contamination in the event of a massive water discharge of radiation as occurred at Fukushima.

To find out more about nuclear power plants near you, click here for Frontier Group's interactive nuclear power map. (1/24/12)

 (Photo: Phillip Holland)

Recent News
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New on the Frontier Group Blog

In the Frontier Group blog, Elizabeth Ridlington reviews a new tool to help the public keep track of big polluters' contributions to global warming, Tony Dutzik provides yet more evidence of how clean energy policy is "bending the curve" on global warming pollution, and Ben Davis celebrates yet another state's big leap toward greater budget and spending transparency.

 

Cleaning Up Tax Increment Financing

Tax increment financing (TIF) is a tool intended to provide cities with funds to redevelop economically troubled or declining areas. Unfortunately, it can also be used to spend public funds without proper accountability, transparency, or democratic oversight. Chicago's TIF program grew into a "shadow budget" from which hundreds of millions of dollars of development subsidies were disbursed at the mayor's discretion. Cleaning Up Tax Increment Financing lays out the problems with Chicago's TIF program, and describes how local leaders can bring the program back in line with its original purpose. Also see the Chicago Tribune's coverage of the report and recent reform proposals by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. (photo: Paul Velgos) (1/31/12)

California's Solar Cities 2012

California’s solar market is thriving. Ten years ago, solar panels atop roofs were a rarity. Today, solar is taking hold in cities across the state, from coastal metropolises to agricultural and industrial hubs in the Central Valley. California's Solar Cities 2012 provides a snapshot of the development of California’s solar market partway through the year 2011, quantifying the amount of solar power installed by city and recommending further steps toward a clean energy future.

See coverage of the report on the New York Times' Green blog here. (1/24/12) (Photo: Oregon Dept. of Transportation)