ORANGEBURG (AP, WLTX) - Environmental issues took center stage Tuesday night in the race to run South Carolina. Five Democrats and five Republicans candidates participated in a debate at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Republican state Sen. Larry Grooms of Charleston disputed the human connection to global warming, citing debunked claims the climate is cooling. Democrat Jim Rex joked that issue could be solved in part by putting a wind turbine in front of the debate stage. The candidates' answers to questions, like ones on conservation and alternative fuels often included talks about creating new jobs. That included the topic of nuclear reprocessing plants. Republican candidate Henry McMaster - "That's another part of the nuclear picture where we could create great wealth and have great talent working there to provide jobs for the people of the state. but we don't want it stored here. We can reprocess it here and then ship it out there." Democratic candidate Jim Rex - "I do think nuclear power is a part of the equation, I think it'd be a real mistake for South Carolina to put all our eggs in that basket." Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen - "I think our governor has to take a strong stance that says South Carolina is not the place that's gonna store nuclear waste in the future and I'm firmly committed to stopping that." Republican candidate Gresham Barrett - "We can have pilot projects here in South Carolina and literally be energy-independent in South Carolina." Republican candidate Andre Bauer - "I have no problem with the reprocessing. But as the congressman said, I would adamantly be opposed to storing that in the state of South Carolina." Democratic candidate Dwight Drake - "Reprocessing is something that is ongoing there at the Savannah River Plant. It creates a number of jobs." Democratic candidate Robert Ford - "Jobs are the number one part of my platform - jobs, jobs, jobs. Then you got some new technology, we might could do some wonders." Republican candidate Larry Grooms - "I believe nuclear is the future of South Carolina. The question is, what do we do to get there?" Republican candidate Nikki Haley - "Reprocessing, yes, but what I would make sure that we were absolutely clear on is that we never go back to where we were, we never allow to take any other state's trash." Democratic candidate Mullins McLeod - "Obviously, nuclear power may very well be part of the equation, but I think wind and solar is important. There's another - ethanol, we've not talked about tonight." No word yet on when the next debate will happen.
11/3/2009 11:25:46 PM
