Tournament: UMKC | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
N/U – foreign policy crises will tank Obama
Morrissey, 9/18 (Ed, 9/18/2012, “Will this become a foreign-policy election?” http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/18/will-this-become-a-foreign-policy-election/ )
We’ve assumed throughout this election cycle that the economy and jobs would drive voter choice
AND
the White House and State missed opportunities to prevent what happened in Benghazi.

Obama is a Teflon president --- mistakes and crises don’t hurt him
Rogers, 9/17 (Ed, 9/17/2012, “Obama's 21st-century Teflon is working,” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-insiders/post/obamas-21st-century-teflon-is-working/2012/09/17/82b05da8-00bf-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_blog.html?wprss=rss_opinions )

It is safe to say that America's outreach to the world under President Obama has been a complete failure.
AND
century coat of Teflon that makes Reagan's legendary resilience look small-time.

Obama already aiding uranium enrichment plant in Ohio
Geman, 12 (6/13/2012, Ben, “OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior lays groundwork to approve Shell’s Arctic drilling plan,” http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/232665-overnight-energy-interior-lays-groundwork-to-green-light-shells-arctic-drilling-plan- )
NEWS BITES:
Obama campaign touts support for Ohio project
President Obama’s Energy Department on Wednesday announced agreements to provide federal aid for an Ohio
AND
, and help pave the path to economic security for the local workforce.

Military spending is immune to political backlash
Norris, Executive director of Sustainable Security program at Center for American Progress, 12
(7/31, Money Pit on the Potomac, www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/07/31/money_pit_on_the_potomac?page=0,0)
July was a tough month for the Pentagon. The Washington Post revealed that three
AND
everything from domestic road building to arts funding into the behemoth defense budget.

Strong public support for federal nuclear power incentives – no effect from Fukushima
WNA 12
(September, World Nuclear Association, US Nuclear Power Policy, www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41_US_nuclear_power_policy.html)
Public opinion regarding nuclear power has generally been fairly positive, and has grown more
AND
operating nuclear power plant is supported by 67% and opposed by 28%. 

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge:
Email abhikkp[at]gmail[dot]com

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

1AC

The United States Federal Government should offer power purchase agreements for small modular nuclear reactors to supply power to military bases in the United States.

Advantage One is Proliferation

Development of nuclear power increasing worldwide – Fukushima hasn’t deterred

Barber, Chief Analyst for Energy Central, 8-30
~[Wayne Barber, Chief of Generation for Energy Central’s Generation Hub, "IAEA Report Finds Fukushima Didn’t Cripple Nuclear Future," August 30^th 2012, http://www.energybiz.com/article/12/08/iaea-report-finds-fukushima-didnt-cripple-nuclear-future~~]
Less than 18 months after the meltdown accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s
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years, "although there is room for further improvement," IAEA said.

Decline of the US nuclear industry undermines non-proliferation safeguards

Loudermilk, Senior Energy Associate @ NDU, ’11
~[Micah J. Loudermilk, Senior Associate for the Energy %26 Environmental Security Policy program with The Institute for National Strategic Studies at The National Defense University, "In Defense of Small Reactors: A Response," February 23^rd 2011, http://csis.org/blog/defense-small-reactors-response~~]
Smith’s final contention takes issue with the argument that DOD needs to operate as a
AND
security standpoint, but also from a mindset of preserving the nonproliferation agenda.

Unsecured technology will fuel a massive wave of proliferation

Macalister, Guardian Energy Editor, ’09
~[Terry Macalister, Energy Editor of The Guardian, Recipient of The Energy of Word Award, International Media Award organized by The Global Energy Prize, "New generation of nuclear power stations ’risk terrorist anarchy’," March 16^th 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/16/nuclearpower-nuclear-waste-http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/16/nuclearpower-nuclear-waste~]
The new generation of atomic power stations planned for Britain, China and many other
AND
low-carbon energy and a stable nuclear weapons environment," he said.

New proliferators will develop offensive postures that increase the risk of conventional and nuclear conflict

Horowitz, professor of poli sci, 9 —Professor of Political Science at University of Pennsylvania (Michael Horowitz, "The Spread of Nuclear Weapons and International Conflict: Does Experience Matter?" Journal of Conflict Resolution, Volume 53 Number 2, April 2009 pg. 234-257)
This section focuses on how acquiring nuclear weapons influences both the new nuclear state and
AND
to be effective, increasing the probability that an adversary will not reciprocate.

Proliferation sparks wars that escalate to great power nuclear conflict

Below 08
~[Tim D.Q., Wing Commander, RAF; MA in Defence Studies, King’s College London; "Options for US nuclear disarmament: exemplary leadership or extraordinary lunacy?," June 2008, Thesis for School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama~]
Proliferation. Roger Molander, of RAND Corporation, asserts that "in the near
AND
which is subsequently escalated into nuclear warfare by its allies or their opponents.

Specifically – The Middle East in is developing new plants

Williams, Utilities Management Consultant, 8-17
~[Glenn Williams, Management Consultant for Regulated Utilities and Energy Service Organization, 30 years of expereinece in startup and operation of large-scale power projects including coal plants, natural gas facilities and half of the nation’s nuclear power facilities, Masters in Technology Management from the University of Maryland, "The Nuclear Renaissance Has Arrived," August 17^th 2012, http://realmoney.thestreet.com/articles/08/17/2012/nuclear-renaissance-has-arrived~~]
If you thought the U.S. would see a nuclear renaissance, you
AND
the nuclear renaissance arrived. Unfortunately, it’s over there and not here. 

Middle East civilian nuclear power programs will be turned into military nuclear weapons programs

Russell, National Security Prof @ NDU, August ’12
~[Richard L. Russell, Professor of National Security Affairs at the National Defense University’s Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, Special Advisor to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and the Joint Special Operations University, Former Adjunct Professor of Security Studies at Georgetown, Former Political-Military Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, "CHAPTER 6: THE MIDDLE EAST’S NUCLEAR FUTURE," The Next Arms Race, August 2012~]
The great danger is that the United States is "cutting off its nose to
AND
determined to keep pace—even though the Emirates got a late start.

Middle East proliferation ensures nuclear exchange

Edelman %26 Krepinevich, Former Undersecretary for Defense, ’11
~[Eric Edelman, Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Former Undersecretary for Defense, Andrew Krepinevich, President of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment, Evan Montgomery, Research Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, "The dangers of a nuclear Iran," http://www.csbaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010.12.27-The-Dangers-of-a-Nuclear-Iran.pdf~~]
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union only needed to
AND
a single intelligence compromise could leave their weapons vulnerable to attack or theft. 

Most likely scenario for global escalation – Middle East instability draws in major powers

Russell, National Security Professor Naval Postgraduate School, ’09 
~[James Russell, Associate Professor of National Security at the Naval Postgraduate School, "Strategic Stability Reconsidered: Prospects for Escalation and Nuclear War in the Middle East," Security Studies Center Proliferation Papers, http://www.analyst-network.com/articles/141/StrategicStabilityReconsideredProspectsforEscalationandNuclearWarintheMiddleEast.pdf~~]
Strategic stability in the region is thus undermined by various factors: (1)
AND
the peoples of the region, with substantial risk for the entire world.

Power Purchasing Agreements allow the DOD to act as a first mover jumpstarting the SMR industry

Madia, Chairman Stanford National Accelerator Lab, ’12
~[Dr. Madia, Chairman of the Board of Overseers %26 Vice President for the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University, Former Laboratory Director at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Former Laboratory Director at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, "SMALL MODULAR REACTORS: A POTENTIAL GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY," Stanford Energy Journal, Spring 2012, http://energyclub.stanford.edu/index.php/Journal/Small_Modular_Reactors_by_William_Madia~~]
Throughout the history of NPP development, plants grew in size based on classic "
AND
the heavy politics of nuclear waste, corporate welfare, or carbon taxes.

The DOD market is the only way to quickly get SMR’s through financial and regulatory barriers

Andres %26 Breetz, Security Prof @ National War College, ’11
~[Richard B. Andres, Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College, Senior Fellow and Energy and Environmental Security and Policy Chair in the Center for Strategic Research, Institute for National Strategic Studies, at the National Defense University, Hanna L. Breetz, Political Science PhD Candidate at MIT, "Small Nuclear Reactors for Military Installations: Capabilities, Costs, and Technological Implications," Strategic Forum, INSS, February 2011~]
Thus far, this paper has reviewed two of DOD’s most pressing energy vulnerabilities—
AND
leadership would likely have a profound effect on the industry’s timeline and trajectory.

Only DOD action can create widespread adoption of SMR’s which saves the domestic nuclear industry

Loudermilk, Senior Energy Associate @ NDU, ’11
~[Micah J. Loudermilk, Senior Associate for the Energy %26 Environmental Security Policy program with The Institute for National Strategic Studies at The National Defense University, "Small Nuclear Reactors and US Energy Security: Concepts, Capabilities, and Costs," Journal of Energy Security, May 2011, http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content%26view=article%26id=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costs%26catid=116:content0411%26Itemid=375-http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content%26view=article%26id=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costs%26catid=116:content0411%26Itemid=375~]
Problematically, despite the immense energy security benefits that would accompany the wide-scale
AND
advance the technology broadly and eventually lead to their wide-scale adoption.

An SMR lead revival of the industry restores US nuclear leadership which controls proliferation risks

Loudermilk, Senior Energy Associate @ NDU, ’11
~[Micah J. Loudermilk, Senior Associate for the Energy %26 Environmental Security Policy program with The Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University, "Small Nuclear Reactors and US Energy Security: Concepts, Capabilities, and Costs," Journal of Energy Security, May 2011, http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content%26view=article%26id=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costs%26catid=116:content0411%26Itemid=375-http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content%26view=article%26id=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costs%26catid=116:content0411%26Itemid=375~]
Combating proliferation with US leadership: Reactor safety itself notwithstanding, many argue that the
AND
reactors are mitigated and concerns over the widespread distribution of nuclear fuel allayed.

SMR’s are key to negotiation pressure for nonproliferation - they are more desirable than other nuclear systems

Sanders, Associate Director Savannah National Lab, ’12
~[Tom Sanders, Associate Laboratory Director for Clean Energy Initiatives at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Department of Energy, Former President of the American Nuclear Society, "Tom Sanders: Great expectations for small modular reactors," Nuclear News, July 2012, pg. 48-49~]
That’s a good question. One of the things that concerned me most in the
AND
with a large plant doesn’t make any sense if you can’t afford it.

Advantage 2 is Bases

Electrical power disruption on military bases is inevitable – aging infrastructure, severe weather, and cyberattacks; Purchasing electricity from SMR’s solve

Robitaille, Army Environmental Center, ’12
~[George E. Robitaille, Department of Army Civilian, US Army Environmental Center, Master of Strategic Studies from The US Army War College, "Small Modular Reactors: The Army’s Secure Source of Energy?," March 21^st 2012~]
According to a recent report by the Defense Science Board, the DoD gets ninety
AND
associated with building coal or natural gas fired power plants on the environment.

Power disruption severely compromises global military operations – safeguards will fail - only power from SMRs ensures sustained reliability and deters cyber attacks

Andres %26 Breetz, Security Prof @ National War College, ’11
~[Richard B. Andres, Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College, Senior Fellow and Energy and Environmental Security and Policy Chair in the Center for Strategic Research, Institute for National Strategic Studies, at the National Defense University, Hanna L. Breetz, Political Science PhD Candidate at MIT, "Small Nuclear Reactors for Military Installations: Capabilities, Costs, and Technological Implications," Strategic Forum, INSS, February 2011~]
The DOD interest in small reactors derives largely from problems with base and logistics vulnerability
AND
grid. As explained in a recent study from the Defense Science Board:
DOD’s key problem with electricity is that critical missions, such as national strategic awareness
AND
in order to win an ongoing battle or war would be greatly reduced.

The US will lashout with nuclear weapons to a military cyber attack

Lawson, Professor of Communication at Utah, 09
(Cross-Domain Response to Cyber Attacks and the Threat of Conflict, 5/13, http://www.seanlawson.net/?p=477)
At a time when it seems impossible to avoid the seemingly growing hysteria over the
AND
lethal agent is regarded with the same or greater seriousness." ~[7~] 

Grid disruptions undermine strategic deterrence missions which rely on continuous uninterrupted power to DOD locations in the US

Defense Science Board, The DSB is a Federal Advisory Committee established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense, 08
(More Fight – Less Fuel, http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/ADA477619.pdf)
Historically, the mission of DoD installations has been to train combat forces and deploy
AND
defense mission for DoD has also expanded the critical loads at some installations. 

The effect on global military operations will be catastrophic

Snider 12
~[Annie Snider, Reporter for Environment %26 Energy Daily, "Pentagon still can’t define ’energy security,’ much less achieve it," January 16^th 2012, http://www.eenews.net/public/Greenwire/2012/01/16/1-http://www.eenews.net/public/Greenwire/2012/01/16/1~]
A terrorist attack that caused a long-term grid disruption "could significantly affect
AND
it is also likely to send waves through civilian energy and technology industries.

China/Taiwan tensions growing – conflict risks high

Bloomberg 12
(2/26, China-Taiwan Tensions Could Loom Over U.S. ’Pivot’ to Asia: View, www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-27/china-taiwan-tensions-could-loom-over-u-s-pivot-to-asia-view.html)
As China’s economic and military power grows, and Taiwan’s long-term future remains
AND
the U.S. temptation to advance those ties at Taiwan’s expense.

Military power disruption ensures an invasion of Taiwan by creating a window of opportunity for China to strike while US forces are out of commission

Gerson, Research analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, 09
(Conventional Deterrence in the Second Nuclear Age http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/Articles/09autumn/gerson.pdf)
Deterrence is once again a topic of discussion and debate among US defense and policy
AND
if the regime believes it can accomplish its objectives before US forces respond.

Global Nuclear Conflict

Hunkovic, Professor American Military University, 09
(Lee J, 2009, "The Chinese-Taiwanese Conflict Possible Futures of a Confrontation between China, Taiwan and the United States of America", http://www.lamp-method.org/eCommons/Hunkovic.pdf-http://www.lamp-method.org/eCommons/Hunkovic.pdf)
A war between China, Taiwan and the United States has the potential to escalate
AND
outcome, therefore, other countries will not be considered in this study.

Diversification means nuclear power gets used

Lamonica, MIT Tech Review, 8-9
~[Martin Lamonica, Writer for MIT Technology Review, "A Glut of Natural Gas Leaves Nuclear Power Stalled," August 9^th 2012, http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428737/a-glut-of-natural-gas-leaves-nuclear-power/-http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428737/a-glut-of-natural-gas-leaves-nuclear-power/~]
Even in United States, of course, super cheap natural gas will not last
AND
one basket because of the new kid on the block called shale gas."

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 1 | Opponent: Kansas | Judge: 

3) Market uncertainties

a) PPA is key to obtain financing

eMpasys, 12 year old I.T alternative energy engineering company and distributor, 11
(Power Purchase Agreement, http://empasys.wordpress.com/solar-power-purchase-agreement-program-%E2%80%93-ppa/)
The PPA is often regarded as the central document in the development of independent electricity
AND
to raise non-recourse financing from a bank or other financing counterparty.

b) Without a PPA market uncertainties will kill the counterplan

Hinckley, leads the clean energy practice at Kilpatrick Townsend, 12
(5 Reasons Why Good Energy Projects Don’t Get Financed, com/2012/08/29/5-reasons-why-good-energy-projects-dont-get-financed/)
Much of the market uncertainties in a typical energy project can be partially managed by
AND
, therefore generally have to have higher margins to provide comfort to investors.

4) Lock out

a) The PPA is key to assuring that SMR’s meet DOD requirements

eMpasys, 12 year old I.T alternative energy engineering company and distributor, 11
(Power Purchase Agreement, http://empasys.wordpress.com/solar-power-purchase-agreement-program-%E2%80%93-ppa/)
The PPA will also describe how invoices are prepared and the time period of response
AND
applicable in regions where the energy harnessed by the renewable technology is more volatile

b) Reactor designs that meet DOD’s needs will get locked out

Andres %26 Breetz, Security Prof @ National War College, ’11
~[Richard B. Andres, Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College, Senior Fellow and Energy and Environmental Security and Policy Chair in the Center for Strategic Research, Institute for National Strategic Studies, at the National Defense University, Hanna L. Breetz, Political Science PhD Candidate at MIT, "Small Nuclear Reactors for Military Installations: Capabilities, Costs, and Technological Implications," Strategic Forum, INSS, February 2011~]
Technological Lock-in. A second risk is that if small reactors do reach
AND
leadership would likely have a profound effect on the industry’s timeline and trajectory.

Tournament:  | Round:  | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Massive military spending now to get power from renewables

Forbes 12
(2/19, U.S. Defense Contractors Are Hidden Investment Plays in Renewable Energy Initiatives, www.forbes.com/sites/genemarcial/2012/02/19/u-s-defense-contractors-are-hidden-investment-plays-in-renewable-energy-initiatives/
The Defense Department
AND
per year by 2030.

Aff trades off

GAO 2012
(April, RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT FINANCING
Improved Guidance and Information Sharing Needed for DOD Project-Level Officials, Report to Congressional Committees)
Availability of funding. Some military service headquarters and installation officials said that, in recent years, they have preferred to AND
 efficiency projects are often more cost-effective than renewable energy projects and receive higher priority for funding.

Buying power from SMR’s will cost less

Rosner and Goldberg, Professor of Physics at U Chicago and Assistant to the Director at the Argonne National Laboratory, 11
(Small Modular Reactors – Key to Future Nuclear Power Generation in the U.S., https://epic.sites.uchicago.edu/sites/epic.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/EPICSMRWhitePaperFinalcopy.pdf)
President Obama has sought to place federal agencies in the vanguard of efforts to adopt clean energy technologies and reduce greenhouse
AND
(9-13¢/kWh), making LEAD and FOAK plants very competitive (prior to consideration of subsidies).

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 1 | Opponent: Kansas | Judge: 

Non-unique – Obama has a huge lead in swing states now

Caldwell, 9/9 —- political reporter for CBSNews.com (9/9/2012, Leigh Ann, "Obama aide: President is "committed to compromise" http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57509059/obama-aide-president-is-committed-to-compromise/-http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57509059/obama-aide-president-is-committed-to-compromise/ )
*Note —- David Plouffe is Obama’s top campaign strategist
The president’s adviser, who also ran Mr. Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, said
AND
And we think that was enhanced coming out of both of our conventions."

Obama has closed the enthusiasm gap —- the base is energized

Levinson, 9/12 (Alexis, 9/12/2012, "Obama closes enthusiasm gap with Romney after conventions," http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/12/obama-closes-enthusiasm-gap-with-romney-after-conventions/-http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/12/obama-closes-enthusiasm-gap-with-romney-after-conventions/ )
In the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama got a bounce
AND
convention to help close the enthusiasm gap that has existed for several months.

Obama is catering to his environmental base by not removing fossil energy restrictions

Colman, 8/29 (Zack, "Pickens: Obama abandoned ’all of the above’ energy policy," http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/246427-pickens-slams-obama-echoes-gop-energy-policies-http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/246427-pickens-slams-obama-echoes-gop-energy-policies )
Billionaire oil-and-gas man T. Boone Pickens on Wednesday said President
AND
policies place too many restrictions on development on federally controlled lands and waters.

Environmentalists hate nuclear power

Fox News 2008 (August 14, "Environmentalists Prompt Nuclear Power Wake-Up Call" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,404185,00.html-http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,404185,00.html)
What did the nuclear power industry get for playing footsie with the "greens"
AND
PIRG), the Maryland Green Party and the Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility.

The environmental vote will decide the election

Lehrer, 12 (6/11/2012, Eli, "How Mitt Romney can win the environmental vote", Huffington Post,
http://rstreet.org/op-ed/how-mitt-romney-can-win-the-environmental-vote/)
Since the (few) positives in Obama’s record and the incumbency are unalterable,
AND
to put Romney over the top. So how can he do it?

The deficit is the key election issue —- Obama needs to appear fiscally responsible to avoid alienating key independents

USA Today, 5/26 (5/26/2012, "Obama campaign goes on the defensive on spending, debt," http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-05-26/obama-romney-debt-spending/55221120/1)
WASHINGTON (AP) – Government spending and debt are emerging as a campaign tug
AND
he said, "hold both of those central tenets to be true."

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 3 | Opponent: Oklahoma | Judge: 

Absent these questions shifts in knowledge production are useless – governments’ obey institutional logics that exist independently of individuals and constrain decisionmaking

Wight – Professor of IR @ University of Sydney – 6
(Colin, Agents, Structures and International Relations: Politics as Ontology, pgs. 48-50 

One important aspect of this relational ontology is that these relations constitute our identity as
AND
upon it, upon its specific characteristics, its constants and its variables’.

This is particularly true for the aff – deterrence is an institutional logic that shapes IR independent of individual knowledge production – evaluate their alts effectiveness through the lens of inter-state threat perception – this argument also proves IR predictions are possible

Moore ’04
Dir. Center for Security Law @ University of Virginia, 7-time Presidential appointee, %26 Honorary Editor of the American Journal of International Law, Solving the War Puzzle: Beyond the Democratic Peace, John Norton Moore, page 27-31.
As so broadly conceived, there is strong evidence that deterrence, that is,
AND
totality of external factors, that is, deterrence, that become crucial.

The aff solves best – only shoring up deterrence creates predictability in threat perception – the alternative is cultural bias or suspicious gut reaction

Lupovici 8 – Post-Doctoral Fellow Munk Centre for International Studies University of Toronto (Amir, "Why the Cold War Practices of Deterrence are Still Prevalent: Physical Security, Ontological Security and Strategic Discourse,"  http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2008/Lupovici.pdf-http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2008/Lupovici.pdf
 Since deterrence can become part of the actors’ identity, it is also involved
AND
it strengthened the actors’ identities and created more stable expectations of avoiding violence.

There is an infinite value to life- your framework causes extinction

Kateb, Professor of Politics at Princeton University, ’92 (George, The Inner Ocean, pg. 144)
To sum up the lines of thought that Nietzsche starts, I suggest first that
AND
the perspective of nothing, which in part is the perspective of extinction.

That’s most ethical – failure of preventative action and predictions drives structural violence and inequality, only actions that act to preserve future generations can resolve power relations

Kurasawa‘4,
(Fuyuki, Assistant Prof. of Sociology @ York University, Cautionary Tales, Constellations Vol. 11, No. 4, Blackwell Synergy)
In the previous section,
AND
What we find here, I would hold, is a substantive and future-oriented ethos on the basis of which civic associations can enact the work of preventive foresight. 

Forcing specific policy analysis is key – allows state institutions to be reclaimed and generates debater education necessary to create a left governmentality – necessary to create a public sphere

Ferguson, Professor of Anthropology at Stanford, 11
(The Uses of Neoliberalism, Antipode, Vol. 41, No. S1, pp 166–184)
If we are seeking, as this special issue of Antipode aspires to do,
AND
the cabinet of governmental arts available to us is a bit less bare than first appeared, and that some rather useful little mechanisms may be nearer to hand than we thought.

Public sphere key to solve extinction – multiple structural trends

Boggs ’97 
(CARL BOGGS – Professor and Ph.D. Political Science, National University, Los Angeles  Theory and Society 26: 741-780)
The false sense of
AND
 become what Hobbes anticipated: the embodiment of those universal, collec- tive interests that had vanished from civil society.75   

Even if security and risk calculation are flawed, engaging in them creates discourse of social welfare and promotes a democratic civic culture that checks political exclusion and loss of value to life

Loader – Criminology Prof at Oxford – 7
(Civilizing Security, Pg. 5)
Faced with such inhospitable conditions, one can
AND
we think, offers reasons to believe that security offers a conduit, perhaps the best conduit there is, for giving practical meaning to the idea of the public good, for reinventing social democratic politics, even for renewing the activity of politics at all. 

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 3 | Opponent: Oklahoma | Judge: 

Debating the aff is key to solve it – imaginative familiarity with nuclear power creates trust and overcomes public misunderstanding – creates tipping point for new facilities

Butler, Parkhill, %26 Pidgeon 11
(Catherine, Research Fellow at Cardiff University, Karen, Research Fellow at Cardiff University, Nicholas, Professor of Environmental Psychology at Cardiff University, "Nuclear Power After Japan: The Social Dimensions", November-December 2011, http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/2011/November-December%202011/Nuclear-full.html)
Nuclear power has, beyond its beginnings where "glamorous reactors" were anticipated with
AND
plants (and trust in plant operators) rather than undermining it.29

Conceiving of scenarios for nuclear war strengthens ideas of place

Casey, Distinguished Philosophy Prof, Stony Brook University, 1997
~[Edward S., Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Stony Brook University, PhD from Northwestern University, past president of the American Philosophical Association (Eastern Division), past chairman of the Philosophy Department at Stony Brook University, has formerly taught at: Yale, UC Santa Barbara, The New School for Social Research, Emory, and several other institutions, The Fate of Place: A Philosophical History, Berkeley: University of California Press, Preface Part II, pp. xiii~]
Still more saliently, certain devastating phenomena of this century bring with them, by
AND
in the planiformity of site: identity, character, nuance, history.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 3 | Opponent: Kansas | Judge: 

The pragmatic process of power generation is key – effective transition away from fossil fuels requires discussion of practical alternatives and willingness to support corporate production of energy

Monbiot 11
(George, columnist for The Guardian, has held visiting fellowships or professorships at the universities of Oxford (environmental policy), Bristol (philosophy), Keele (politics), Oxford Brookes (planning), and East London (environmental science), March 31, "The double standards of green anti-nuclear opponents", http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/mar/31/double-standards-nuclear)

Like most environmentalists, I want renewables to replace fossil fuel, but I realise
AND
and my belief that it needs to be held to account remain unchanged.

Alt doesn’t create a movement – neolib entrenched

Comaroff, 2011 (September, John, Harold H. Swift Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, "The End of Neoliberalism? "What Is Left of the Left," p. 142-146)
While the world economic crisis of 2008–2009 might have killed off neoliber-
AND
for the foreseeable future—to the degree that any future is foreseeable.

Turn – the alt causes coal fill-in – that’s 100x worse for the environment – critiques of nuke production are idealistic and treat the energy in a vacuum, not in context

Monbiot ’11
(George, columnist for The Guardian, has held visiting fellowships or professorships at the universities of Oxford (environmental policy), Bristol (philosophy), Keele (politics), Oxford Brookes (planning), and East London (environmental science), March 21, 2011, "Why Fukushima made me stop worrying and love nuclear power", http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/21/pro-nuclear-japan-fukushima)
But the energy source to which most economies will revert if they shut down their
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The crisis at Fukushima has converted me to the cause of nuclear power.

Coal-shift outweighs nuclear pollution – fly ash is 100x more deadly and subject to much weaker environmental regulations

Monbiot 11
(George, columnist for The Guardian, has held visiting fellowships or professorships at the universities of Oxford (environmental policy), Bristol (philosophy), Keele (politics), Oxford Brookes (planning), and East London (environmental science), March 31, “The double standards of green anti-nuclear opponents", http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/mar/31/double-standards-nuclear)
If low-level radiation
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 then? Can you imagine what the outcry would have been if a corporation had planned to fill it with low-level waste from a nuclear plant?

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 1 | Opponent: Oklahoma | Judge: 

Their alternative collapses internally. The "excess of life" is incoherent and tautological.

Amrine ’92
Frederick Amrine, Associate Professor of German, University of Michigan. The Crisis in Modernism, Ed: Burwick %26 Douglass, p. 143
By simultaneously endowing "life" with ultimate value and refusing it any and all
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live most fully) of the sort we have analyzed at length above.

Affirming life’s excess wrecks the biosphere. The impact is extinction.

Mittler ’2k
Daniel Mittler is a graduate of Edinburgh University. He is currently completing a PhD at University College London. "Nietzsche: an environmentalist %21?". The Philosopher’s Magazine. Summer 2000. web205.vbox-01.inode.at/Data/data/publications/dm/nietzsche.pdf
Nietzsche in several instances urges us to embrace all of life, all of fate
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to the earthly extremity of techno-Armageddon" (Acampora, 1994).

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 5 | Opponent: Kansas | Judge: 

Domestic nuclear industry key to prevent global accidents

Wallace and Williams, Senior Adviser on U.S. Nuclear Energy Project at CSIS and Nuclear Policy Analyst at Partnership for Global Security, 12
(Nuclear Energy in America:Preventing its Early Demise, csis.org/files/publication/120417_gf_wallace_williams.pdf)
Second, setting global norms and standards for safety, security, operations, and
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.S. nuclear industry and take action to prevent its early demise.

Fukushima proves accidents getting worse – extinction

Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics at University of Ottawa, 12 
(1/25, Fukushima: A Nuclear War without a War: The Unspoken Crisis of Worldwide Nuclear Radiation, www.globalresearch.ca/fukushima-a-nuclear-war-without-a-war-the-unspoken-crisis-of-worldwide-nuclear-radiation/)
The World is at a critical crossroads. The Fukushima disaster in Japan has brought
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University Researchers Challenge Official Data, Global Research, April 11, 2011)

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 5 | Opponent: Kansas | Judge: 

Here’s what nuclear power uses – no tradeoff

Zyga, Science Reporter for PhysOrg, quoting analysis by Abbott, Prof. of Electrical Engineering, 2011
~[5/11/11, Lisa, BA in rhetoric from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, known science reporter for PhysOrg, Derek Abbott, Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide in Australia, "Why nuclear power will never supply the world’s energy needs," PhysOrg, http://phys.org/news/2011-05-nuclear-power-world-energy.html-http://phys.org/news/2011-05-nuclear-power-world-energy.html~]
Exotic metals: The nuclear containment vessel is made of a variety of exotic rare
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-generation nuclear reactors, whether they are fueled by thorium or uranium.

Beryllium solves your internal link

BEST, no date
~[Beryllium Science %26 Technology Association, "Uses %26 Applications of Beryllium," http://beryllium.eu/about-beryllium-and-beryllium-alloys/uses-and-applications-of-beryllium/~~]
Advancing digital technology. High-performance processors pack more and denser layers of high
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beryllia ceramics remain the insulators of choice for such high-frequency circuits.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 7 | Opponent: Trinity KV | Judge: 

Turn – "nuclear apartheid" arguments erase internal difference in Third World countries by valorizing nuclear weapons development as a strategy of resistance – that cedes the political to conservative, nationalistic political groups

Biswas ’1
(Shampa, Political Science Professor @ Whitman College, Alternatives, Vol. 26, Issue 4, 2001)
Where does that leave us with the question of "nuclear apartheid"? As persuasive
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this mutually constitutive co-construction of racialized domestic and international hierarchical orders.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: 7 | Opponent: Trinity KV | Judge: 

Can build SMRs in a couple years

Adams, Former Nuclear Submarine Engineer Officer and Founder of Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., ’11
~[Adams, "Smaller nuclear reactors allow decentralized power – some critics not pleased," http://atomicinsights.com/2011/07/smaller-nuclear-reactors-allow-decentralized-power-some-critics-not-pleased.html~~]
These days, the US is building small modular reactors in just 3-4
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though today’s regulatory environment makes it far more challenging to demonstrate that reality.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: Doubles | Opponent: Trinity | Judge: 

2) Counter interpretation – Financial incentives are a disbursement of funds directly tied to an express objective

Webb,  – lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, 93 
("Thumbs, Fingers, and Pushing on String: Legal Accountability in the Use of Federal Financial Incentives", 31 Alta. L. Rev. 501)
In this paper, "financial incentives" are taken to mean disbursements of public
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In effect, these programs are assistance, but they are not incentives. 

3) For implies a direct relationship

Words and Phrase 04 
(Words and Phrases Permanent Edition, "For," Volume 17, p. 338-343)
 W.D.Tenn. 1942. The Fair Labor Standards Act of
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which only "affects" a certain purpose which implies an indirect relation.

7) Prefer contextual support – power purchase agreements are financial incentives for nuclear power

Carroll, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Terra-Gen Power, 05
(January, International Power %26 Utilities Finance Review, New nuclear power plants in the US: Governmental incentives for non-recourse project finance)
In its report dated January 10, 2005, the NETF identified the unavailability of financing as a significant obstacle to new nuclear power plant construction. The NETF recommended that the US government offer a range of financial incentives for the construction of the first few reactors, such as: secured loans, loan guarantees, accelerated depreciation, investment tax credits, production tax credits and government power purchase agreements.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: Doubles | Opponent: Trinity | Judge: 

Even if prolif decreases war there’s still a risk – nuclear war is uniquely devastating, act to prevent it

Asal, Professor of Political Science at State U of New York, and Beardsley, Professor of Political Science at Emory University, ’7 (Victor and Kyle, "Proliferation and International Crisis Behavior" Journal of Peace Research, Vol 44 No 2, p 139-155, SagePub)

Our findings shed light only on the general impact that increasing the number of nuclear
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the likelihood of deterrence failure with increasing the costs of each failure instance.

SMR’s can’t explode

Robitaille, Army Environmental Center, ’12
~[George E. Robitaille, Department of Army Civilian, US Army Environmental Center, Master of Strategic Studies from The US Army War, "Small Modular Reactors: The Army’s Secure Source of Energy?," March 21^st 2012~]
Another area of safety that has to be addressed is the physical protection of the
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, and may be more efficient than any reactors that have preceded them.
Economic wave theory is wrong
Coggan, 2003
~[Philip, June 7, "Technically, These Methods Don’t Work" Financial Times~]
As Niederhoffer and Kenner write:  "The problem with technical analysis is that practitioners
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divined from lines on a graph. Life is simply not that easy.

Even a limited regional nuclear war would result in a nuclear winter that destroys the vast majority of the world’s population

Toon et al. ’07
~[Owen B. Toon, Prof, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, U of Colorado; Alan Robock, Prof, Envtl Sciences, Rutgers U; Richard P. Turco, Prof, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UCLA; Charles Bardeen, Prof, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, U of Colorado; Luke Oman, Prof, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins U, Georgiy L. Stenchikov, Prof of Envtl Sciences, Rutgers U, "NUCLEAR WAR: Consequences of Regional-Scale Nuclear Conflicts," Science, 2 March 2007, Vol. 315. No. 5816, Pg. 1224 – 1225~]
National ownership of nuclear weapons offers perceived international status and insurance against aggression at a
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the greatest dangers to the stability of society since the dawn of humans.

Countries won’t use bioweapons- they are too unrealiable

MIT 2 
(Ocotber 30, pg. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/anthrax-1030.html)**
Biological weapons - which could contain germs that cause diseases such as anthrax, smallpox
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you have a weapon. If not, you don’t," said Guillemin.

Diseases "burn out" too fast to cause extinction – their ev is based on a sampling error

Washington Post 97 (John Schwartz, "Battling an Outbreak Of Hype", 1-19, L/N)
Regis delights in deflating the scaremongers, and parodies the scare talk surrounding the Kikwit
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, gathering their forces, and preparing to bring us ’the coming plague’." 

Tournament: UMKC | Round: Doubles | Opponent: Trinity | Judge: 

Declaratory policy doesn’t matter

Martin et al – Policy Analysis Program Officer, Stanley Foundation – ’9
Matt, A New Look at No First Use, http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/resources.cfm?id=334-http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/resources.cfm?id=334

Some participants were not sure that NFU would measurably reduce the salience of nuclear weapons
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while remaining more realistic and honest about possible nuclear use in extenuating circumstances.

Doesn’t strengthen norms or the taboo

Glaser, Professor and Deputy Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago, and Steve Fetter, Professor and Dean of the School of Public Policy  University of Maryland – ’5
Counterforce Revisited, International Security, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Fall 2005), pp. 84–126
This leaves open the possibility that the nuclear taboo would be strengthened by doctrinal changes
AND
doctrinal shifts alone are unlikely to strengthen or weaken the taboo significantly.66

Solvency deficit and turn—NFU fails because of suspicion from other countries, vulnerability at home, and restriction of capabilities to defend ourselves.

Tertrais, ’09
Bruno Tertrais, Senior Research Fellow at the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique in Paris, expert in conflicts, US strategy, transatlantic relations, and nuclear proliferation. "The Trouble with No First Use" Forum: The Case for No First Use: An Exchange" October 5, 2009 http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~~content=a915329759~~db=all

At first glance, it sounds like a great and simple idea. Any nuclear
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costs, if any, because it would not change the doctrine itself.

Tournament: UMKC | Round: Doubles | Opponent: Trinity | Judge: 

Their epistemology K is flawed – social constructions are knowable – they pre-exist individuals and constrain action in predictable ways – prefer the specificity of the aff to broad philosophical indictments

Fluck, PhD in International Politics from Aberystwyth, ’10 (Matthew, November, "Truth, Values and the Value of Truth in Critical International Relations Theory" Millennium Journal of International Studies, Vol 39 No 2, SagePub)

Critical Realists arrive at their understanding of truth by inverting the post-positivist attitude
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only identify truth through certain epistemic procedures and from within certain social contexts.

 Nevertheless, these procedures are oriented towards independent reality. The status of the
AND
. 44 It therefore remains possible to pursue the truth about social reality.

Predictions are good enough to act on.  Their critique sets the bar too high

Chernoff 9 (Fred, Prof. IR and Dir. IR – Colgate U., European Journal of International Relations, "Conventionalism as an Adequate Basis for Policy-Relevant IR Theory", 15:1, Sage)
 For these and other reasons, many social theorists and social scientists have come
AND
commitment to both of these conclusions should be evident from the foregoing discussion.

Tournament: Harvard | Round: 1 | Opponent:  | Judge: 

Advantage One is Prolif

Global development of nuclear power is inevitable even under conservative estimates

WNN, 9-26

World Nuclear News, “Nuclear growth slowing not stalling,” September 26th 2012, http:~/~/www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Nuclear_growth_slowing_not_html(%%)

Growth rates may have slowed but world nuclear energy capacity will nevertheless continue to increase

AND

capacity playing an important role in the energy mix in the longer term." 

Mismanaged transition to nuclear power will fuel a massive wave of proliferation

Macalister, Guardian Energy Editor, ’09

Terry Macalister, Energy Editor of The Guardian, Recipient of The Energy of Word Award, International Media Award organized by The Global Energy Prize, “New generation of nuclear power stations 'risk terrorist anarchy',” March 16^th 2009, http:~/~/www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/16/uk/environment/2009/mar/16/nuclearpower-nuclear-waste(%%)

The new generation of atomic power stations planned for Britain, China and many other

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low-carbon energy and a stable nuclear weapons environment," he said.

New proliferators will develop offensive postures that increase the risk of conventional and nuclear conflict

Horowitz, professor of poli sci, 9 —Professor of Political Science at University of Pennsylvania (Michael Horowitz, “The Spread of Nuclear Weapons and International Conflict: Does Experience Matter?” Journal of Conflict Resolution, Volume 53 Number 2, April 2009 pg. 234-257)

This section focuses on how acquiring nuclear weapons influences both the new nuclear state and

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to be effective, increasing the probability that an adversary will not reciprocate.

Proliferation sparks wars that escalate to great power nuclear conflict

Below 08

Tim D.Q., Wing Commander, RAF; MA in Defence Studies, King’s College London; “Options for US nuclear disarmament: exemplary leadership or extraordinary lunacy?,” June 2008, Thesis for School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama

Proliferation. Roger Molander, of RAND Corporation, asserts that “in the near

AND

which is subsequently escalated into nuclear warfare by its allies or their opponents.

Specifically – The Middle East in is developing new plants

Williams, Utilities Management Consultant, 8-17

Glenn Williams, Management Consultant for Regulated Utilities and Energy Service Organization, 30 years of expereinece in startup and operation of large-scale power projects including coal plants, natural gas facilities and half of the nation’s nuclear power facilities, Masters in Technology Management from the University of Maryland, “The Nuclear Renaissance Has Arrived,” August 17^th 2012, http://realmoney.thestreet.com/articles/08/17/2012/nuclear-renaissance-has-arrived

If you thought the U.S. would see a nuclear renaissance, you

AND

the nuclear renaissance arrived. Unfortunately, it's over there and not here.

Middle East civilian nuclear power programs will be turned into military nuclear weapons programs

Russell, National Security Prof @ NDU, August ’12

Richard L. Russell, Professor of National Security Affairs at the National Defense University’s Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, Special Advisor to the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and the Joint Special Operations University, Former Adjunct Professor of Security Studies at Georgetown, Former Political-Military Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, “CHAPTER 6: THE MIDDLE EAST’S NUCLEAR FUTURE,” The Next Arms Race, August 2012

The great danger is that the United States is “cutting off its nose to

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determined to keep pace—even though the Emirates got a late start.

Middle East proliferation ensures nuclear exchange

Edelman and Krepinevich, Former Undersecretary for Defense, ‘11

Eric Edelman, Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Former Undersecretary for Defense, Andrew Krepinevich, President of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment, Evan Montgomery, Research Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, “The dangers of a nuclear Iran,” http://www.csbaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010.12.27-The-Dangers-of-a-Nuclear-Iran.pdf

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union only needed to

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a single intelligence compromise could leave their weapons vulnerable to attack or theft.

Most likely scenario for global escalation – Middle East instability draws in major powers

Russell, National Security Professor Naval Postgraduate School, ’09

James Russell, Associate Professor of National Security at the Naval Postgraduate School, “Strategic Stability Reconsidered: Prospects for Escalation and Nuclear War in the Middle East,” Security Studies Center Proliferation Papers, http://www.analyst-network.com/articles/141/StrategicStabilityReconsideredProspectsforEscalationandNuclearWarintheMiddleEast.pdf

Strategic stability in the region is thus undermined by various factors: (1)

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the peoples of the region, with substantial risk for the entire world.

An SMR lead revival of the industry restores US nuclear leadership which controls proliferation risks

Loudermilk, Senior Energy Associate @ NDU, ’11

Micah J. Loudermilk, Senior Associate for the Energy and Environmental Security Policy program with The Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University, “Small Nuclear Reactors and US Energy Security: Concepts, Capabilities, and Costs,” Journal of Energy Security, May 2011, http:~/~/www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_contentandview=articleandid=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costsandcatid=116:content0411andItemid=375url:http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_contentandview=articleandid=314:small-nuclear-reactors-and-us-energy-security-concepts-capabilities-and-costsandcatid=116:content0411andItemid=375(% style="font-size:4.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt" %)

Combating proliferation with US leadership: Reactor safety itself notwithstanding, many argue that the

AND

reactors are mitigated and concerns over the widespread distribution of nuclear fuel allayed.

SMR’s are key to negotiation pressure for nonproliferation - they are more desirable than other nuclear systems

Sanders, Associate Director Savannah National Lab, ’12

Tom Sanders, Associate Laboratory Director for Clean Energy Initiatives at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Department of Energy, Former President of the American Nuclear Society, “Tom Sanders: Great expectations for small modular reactors,” Nuclear News, July 2012, pg. 48-49

That’s a good question. One of the things that concerned me most in the

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with a large plant doesn’t make any sense if you can’t afford it.

Advantage Two is Natural Gas

Cheap and plentiful natural gas is creating an overdependence for electricity generation that will cause future price volatility and shortages – SMR development solves

Perry, Professor of Economics at UM – Flint, 9-26

Mark J. Perry, “Natural gas and nuclear power need to share the lead in power generation for the future,” September 26^th 2012, www.aei.org/article/energy-and-the-environment/conventional-energy/natural-gas-and-nuclear-power-need-to-share-the-lead-in-power-generation-for-the-future/

Recent advances in drilling technologies have unleashed a boom in domestic natural gas production.

AND

replaced, and fostering their use is in our national and economic interest.

Long term price stability is impossible without NRC regulatory reform to promote fuel diversity

Spencer, Nuclear Research Fellow @ Thomas Roe Institute, 12

Jack Spencer, Research Fellow in Nuclear Energy in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, “More to the Story on Nuclear Power and Cheap Natural Gas,” March 16th 2012, http:~/~/blog.heritage.org/2012/03/16/more-to-the-story-on-nuclear-power-and-cheap-natural-gas/http://blog.heritage.org/2012/03/16/more-to-the-story-on-nuclear-power-and-cheap-natural-gas/||target="_blank"

Two major financial news publications, the Economist and The Wall Street Journal, published

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markets to more abundant, more affordable, and even safer nuclear energy.

Only SMRs can solve

McNelis, Director at the Institute for the Environment at UNC-Chapel Hill, 11

(6/24, Safer power from smaller reactors, www.newsobserver.com/2011/06/24/1295895/safer-power-from-smaller-reactors.html)

Efforts to promote energy efficiency, encourage sustainable lifestyle changes and exploit renewable energy sources

AND

require back-up power in the event the weather is not cooperating.

Natural gas price volatility kills the economy – nuclear hedge key

Bezdek, Founder and President of Management Information Services, 04

(Public Utilities Fortnightly, The Case Against Gas Dependence, www.misi-net.com/publications/Case_Against_Gas_Dependence.pdf)

Over the past two decades, the United States has, by default, come

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sector, and not to accept demand destruction in the nation’s industrial sector.

Natural gas prices outweigh alt causes – price stability ensures growth

Dratler, Professor of Intellectual Property at The University of Akron School of Law, 10-8

(How Near-Term Energy Policy Could Make or Break Us, jaydiatribe.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-near-term-energy-policy-could-make.html)

The new horizontal drilling technology known as “fracking” has brought us a “

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a bigger supply of natural-gas for space heating at higher prices.

US economic collapse emboldens adversaries – ensures global warfare

Lieberthal and O'Hanlon, Director of the China center and Director of research at Brookings, 12

(7/10, The Real National Security Threat: America's Debt, www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/07/10-economy-foreign-policy-lieberthal-ohanlon)

Lastly, American economic weakness undercuts U.S. leadership abroad. Other countries

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really possible if that fundamental prerequisite to effective foreign policy is not reestablished.

Affordable natural gas in the US is key to the global economy – makes up for shortfalls from Europe and China

Perry, Professor of Economics at UM – Flint, 12

Mark J. Perry, “U.S. Emerges As A Main Engine of Global Growth,” mjperry.blogspot.com/2012/04/us-emerging-as-main-engine-of-global.html

"The U.S. once again may be emerging as a main engine

AND

current pickup in growth is clearly being led by the U.S.”

Global economic collapse ensures great power conflict and accesses every impact possible

Green and Schrage, IR Prof @ Georgetown, ’09

Michael Green, Senior Advisor and Japan Chair @ The Center for Strategic and International Studies and Associate Professor @ The Walsh School of Foreign Service,  Steven Schrage, CSIS Scholl Chair in International Business, Former Senior official with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, State Department and Ways and Means Committee, “It's not just the economy,” March 26^th 2009, http:~/~/www.atimes.com/atimes/Asian_Economy/html||title="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Asian_Economy/KC26Dk01.html"

Facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, analysts at the World Bank

AND

demonstration effect of liberal norms we are urging China to embrace at home. 

Plan

The United States federal government should diminish Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffing, manufacturing licensing, emergency planning zone, and safety regulations for Small Modular Reactors to be consistent with the unique attributes of Small Modular Reactors.

Solvency

NRC regulations are an absolute barrier to SMR commercialization – providing an easier path to licensing ensures widespread adoption

Spencer and Loris, Nuclear Research Fellow @ Thomas Roe Institute, ’11

Jack Spencer, Research Fellow in Nuclear Energy in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, Nicolas D. Loris is a Research Associate in the Roe Institute at The Heritage Foundation, “A Big Future for Small Nuclear Reactors?,” February 2^nd 2011, http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/02/a-big-future-for-small-nuclear-reactors

If SMRs Are So Great, Where Is the Construction? While some designs are

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for nuclear power and should implement the necessary reforms to make this happen.

Staffing, Security, and Safety regulations are the primary obstacles

Marston, CTO Electric Power Research Institute, ’12

Dr. Theodore U. Marston, Former Chief Technology Officer of the Electric Power Research Institute, PhD Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, “Status of Small Modular Light Water Reactors in the US,” The Nuclear Decarbonization Option: Profiles of Selected Advanced Reactor Technologies, March 2012

l Staffing – Current control room staffing requirements are based on large reactors with fully

AND

in the assumption that they can be licensed, built and commissioned quickly.

Our solvency is reverse causal – a strong SMR nuclear renaissance will follow reduction of NRC regulations

Wheeler, Power Engineering Editor, ’11

Brian Wheeler, Associate Editor, Power Engineering, “Small Modular Reactors are ‘Hot’,” February 1^st 2011, http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-115/issue-2/departments/nuclear-reactions/small-modular-reactors-are-hot.html

One of the “hottest” topics being discussed in the U.S.

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, which could in return lead to more clean energy on the grid.

Funding for SMR commercialization exists now – reducing NRC barriers ensures fast development

Cunningham, Policy Analyst for Energy and Climate at the American Security Project, October, ’12

Small Modular Reactors: A Possible Path Forward for Nuclear Power. americansecurityproject.org/ASP%20Reports/Ref%200087%20-%20Small%20Modular%20Reactors.pdf

Finally, the rapid increase in demand for electricity around the world over the next

AND

the time and cost for design licensing will accelerate the development of SMRs.