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Senator Dianne Feinstein, Member, United States Senate (D-CA) in conversation with Greg Dalton, Founder of Climate One at The Commonwealth Club In this Climate One conversation at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, in San Francisco, Senator Dianne Feinstein touches on some longtime pursuits \u2013 national security experience and protecting the California desert from development. She also pledges to investigate the safety of the US nuclear fleet, protect children from toxins, and continue to shield California\u2019s coastline from oil drilling. Feinstein is clear that clean energy is California\u2019s future. \u201cEnergy is the largest source of new jobs for this state,\u201d she says, citing an estimate placing the number at 100,000 additional jobs. Those new energy jobs \u2013 such as building large solar thermal power plants \u2013 should not be located, however, in the state\u2019s undeveloped desert. \u201cThere is plenty of land in the desert that is disturbed that can be used. I think all of these [solar] companies are essentially finding other places to build, where there is no real environmental challenge to things that are endangered like desert tortoises,\u201d says Feinstein. A trickier problem, especially in the wake of the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear complex, is how to ensure the safety of, and store spent fuel from, America\u2019s nuclear reactors. Insufficient attention has been paid to the full nuclear fuel cycle, Feinstein says. \u201cI believe very strongly that we need either regional or centralized nuclear fuel storage. It\u2019s asking for trouble to keep hot rods in spent pools for decades and dry casks right along the side of nuclear reactors. I think they should be moved right away.\u201d She also pledges quick action on plant safety. \u201cI\u2019m going to try to push as far and as fast as I can push to see that we really take a good look, a real examination, of all the facilities,\u201d says Feinstein. Feinstein warns against the danger posed by exposure to chemicals, especially for infants. Of particular concern is Bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor, which, she says, is added to the inside of canned goods and baby bottles. \u201cI become very interested in chemicals that are added that we know very little about,\u201d says Feinstein. Though a proponent of greater energy efficiency (in the Q&A, Feinstein cites her decades-long quest to boost fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles as her proudest Senate achievement) Feinstein says now is not the time to raise the gas tax. \u201cI\u2019d go slowly on that. We have very long commutes for workers in this state,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is not the time, when gasoline is this high, with the nation trying to pull itself out of recession. We need to keep gasoline below the $4 mark right now,\u201d Feinstein says. She blamed speculators for the high prices: \u201cDemand is down, and supply is even \u2013 so what can it be?\u201d She reaffirms that oil companies should not look to California\u2019s coast for additional supply. \u201cThe people of California have spoken through initiative. They don\u2019t want oil drilling off the coast.\u201d This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on April 27, 2011\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices