The combined annual revenue of American nonprofits opposing nuclear energy has risen to more than $3.3 billion, according to a recent update. This figure includes 45 additional anti-nuclear nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that were not previously counted.
The increase comes after the discovery of new groups that have taken public positions against nuclear power. Many of these organizations were identified through open letters sent to politicians by climate policy nonprofits such as the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). In April 2021, CBD circulated a letter asking President Biden to “Phase out nuclear energy,” with 520 cosigners including major organizations like 350.org and the Center for International Environmental Law.
Not all signatories are primarily focused on climate or energy policy. Groups such as Warehouse Workers for Justice and Feminists in Action Los Angeles joined these statements, reflecting what some observers describe as an alignment among left-leaning public policy groups. The NAACP and the League of Women Voters have also cosigned statements opposing nuclear power.
A significant addition to the list was the California Teachers Association (CTA), which reports annual revenue exceeding $200 million. The inclusion of CTA raised the estimated combined annual revenue of anti-nuclear NGOs past $2.5 billion at that time.
Further research uncovered another group letter from People vs. Fossil Fuels in August 2022, which criticized various forms of energy including nuclear power:
“Relying only on large scale investments in renewable energy and environmental justice alone will not stave off climate disaster if Congress simultaneously puts its legislative foot on the gas to expand fossil fuel production and false solutions like carbon capture, hydrogen, biomass, biofuels, factory farm gas, and nuclear power.”
This letter led to identifying additional organizations opposed to nuclear energy, including Church World Service ($284.8 million in revenue) and Oxfam America ($83.1 million). Other notable additions are Taproot Earth ($32.8 million), NDN Collective ($21.6 million), and Greenlining Institute ($12.2 million).
Among all opponents ranked by their most recently reported annual revenues are World Wildlife Fund, World Resources Institute, Church World Service, Environmental Defense Fund, California Teachers Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Rocky Mountain Institute, Oxfam America, and League of Conservation Voters.
A separate ranking focuses solely on leading anti-energy groups such as Greenpeace and GRID Alternatives while another highlights fellow travelers like American Friends Service Committee and Indivisible.
More details about these organizations can be found at InfluenceWatch’s profile page: Opposition to Nuclear Energy.
“Such a position isn’t merely anti-science, but anti-civilization,” according to commentary included in the report.
