http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-23/nuclear-illinois-helped-shape-obama-view-on-energy-in-dealings-with-exelon.htmlObama’s relationship with Exelon, the nation’s largest U.S. nuclear power producer, led his top 2008 Democratic primary opponent, then-Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, to charge that he had “cut some deals” with the industry.
Even as his administration reviews all U.S. reactors following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered radiation leaks from a crippled Japanese plant, Obama last week called nuclear power an “important part” of his energy agenda. That mirrors the balancing act he displayed in his adopted home state, which generates more than a tenth of U.S. nuclear power.
Emanuel, Axelrod Ties
Two top former Obama aides, onetime senior adviser David Axelrod and ex-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, had business dealings with Exelon earlier in their careers.
Emanuel, who left the administration to successfully run for mayor of Chicago, worked on the $8.2 billion merger that created Exelon in 2000. Axelrod, currently helping run Obama’s re-election bid, had ownership in a consulting business that had Exelon as a client before he joined the White House in 2009.
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Obama’s 2012 budget calls for an additional $36 billion in U.S. loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants.