Articles

Informational Articles

Meet the Alliance and Legal Fund Board & Executive Director

The Alliance is rapidly building a diverse and cross-disciplinary board.

California Must Limit Nuclear Waste on Coast

Without a solution to the storage of high-level radioactive waste it would be irresponsible for California to allow license renewals for California's nuclear plants

Chernobyl Fallout based on SONGS

A replay of the fallout pattern from Chernobyl, but centered on San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, and with a Northwest wind.

Nuclear Costs Rise

In the last few months costs to continue operation of nuclear energy have risen - is this really an option for California's energy future?

Chernobyl Fallout based on Diablo Canyon

A replay of the fallout pattern from Chernobyl, but centered on Diablo Canyon, and with a Northwest wind.

Is Nuclear Waste Transport Safe?

Two fatal train accidents in January 2005

Alliance Executive Director to Speak at NRC Conf.

The Executive Director of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Invited to Speak at NRC Conference

PBS NOW highlights SLO fight for nuclear safety

 

San Diego Bay Council say No to steam generator replacement at SONGS

San Diego Bay Council Resolution Opposing SONGS License Renewal

U.S. Rail Audit Frightening

U.S. Audit Faults Federal Regulators on Rail Safety

San Diego Organizations New Alliance Supporters

San Diego Environmental Organizations Support Alliance Mission

Environment California becomes an Alliance supporter

Environment California Views Mission of Alliance as Opportunity for Clean Energy Sources

EC Demonstrates Renewables are Viable

Environment California Produces Reports that Clearly Show Renewables can Replace Polluting and Dangerous Energy Sources

Faulty Valve Shuts down San Onofre Again

San Onofre Nuclear Plant Shuts Down for Third Time in Three Months

Treaty Could Prevent Yucca Mountain

Nuclear Waste May Stay in Reactor Communities

PBS NOW show - online video now available

 

Permanent Nuclear Dump Delayed

Yucca Mountain Opening Delayed ANOTHER 5 Years

Attorneys General New Nuke Security Letter

Attorneys General Signed a Letter to Support Security

US Nuclear Waste could provide terror target

New Scientist article highlighting concerns of National Academy of Sciences report on nuclear power plant vulnerability

Radioactive Shipment from New York Leaks

A Shipment of Radioactive Waste from New York to South Carolina Leaks

First Term Republican Assemblyman asks for Nuclear Study

A Courageous First Term Republican Assemblyman Questions Safe Future of Nuclear Power and gets Support from Chair of Committee

Electrical Component Failure Trips SONGS Reactor

Electrical Component Failure Challenges Safety of SONGS

Solar bill moves forward

The president announces a backward energy plan while California moves towards energy independence

A Millon Solar Roofs by 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Announces A Million Solar Roofs within 13 Years

Solar gains acceptance in San Diego

San Diego looks toward cleaner energy future

National Academies Say Nuclear Waste at Weapons Sites Should Remain Onsite

Nuclear Weapons Waste Should be Stored at production Sites.

Participation is vital at upcoming CPUC meetings on operation of San Onofre

The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will close and the production of high-level radioactive waste will cease by 2014 if steam generators are not replaced.

Governor Announces Million Solar Home Policy

Alliance Supporter Announces Governor's Policy on Solar Roofs

Fatal Flaws of Nuclear Power

This new series of educational fact sheets about nuclear power is aimed at refuting some of the central arguments that nuclear power advocates use when advancing their message. Specifically, there are five key reasons why nuclear power is not a solution to the United States’ energy needs: cost, security, safety, waste, and proliferation

Push for new nuclear plants dangerously short-sighted

The president's call for nuclear plants ignores the daily deadly byproduct, high-level radioactive waste.

Nuclear Power Not Needed to Reduce Global Warming Emissions

With the nuclear industry running an aggressive public relations campaign to promote itself as the solution to global warming, a report released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) demonstrates that the goals of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act can be met while slashing America's reliance on nuclear energy in half.

California's Remaining Nuclear Plants

The body text of this may be included on the home page.

Yucca contributions should be returned

Federal judge wants to give ratepayer money back for Yucca

Split Over Atoms

Who will pay for San Onofre’s rehab?

A Responsible Electricity Future:

An Efficient, Cleaner and Balanced Scenario for the US Electricity System

Diablo is 20 - 20 years is enough

If you participated in the early actions involving Diablo, then come and see yourself without gray hair and wrinkles fighting to protect the future. If not, its time to come out of woodwork and stop the insanity of license renewals NOW!

International Energy Expert Debunks New Nukes

Nuclear power's scorned small-scale competitors are walloping it in the marketplace, Rocky Mountain Institute research shows.

Comments of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility

Comments of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility on Emergency Preparedness Regulations and Guidance for Commercial Nuclear Power Plants in California

Alliance Executive Director to be panelist at CEC Workshop

The California Energy Commission has invited Rochelle Becker, Executive Director of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility to speak on future of nuclear plants in California

ALLIANCE PRESENTATION TO CEC 08/15 & 16/2005

PRESENTATION OF THE ALLIANCE FOR NUCLEAR RESPONSIBILTY AS PART OF THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION INTEGRATED ENERGY POLICY REPORT

California is not ready for a nuclear disaster

Emergency plans work on paper, reality is full of surprises

NRC admits terrorism is not remote or speculative

At an NRC workshop in fall 2005 the NRC announces a host of security upgrades at U.S. nuclear plants, even though it had ruled chances of attack "remote and speculative" in legal cases. The NRC's invitation of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility to discuss adequacy of emergency planning and Hurricane Katrina results in renewed questions on adequacy of evacuation and sheltering in event of radioactive release at nuclear plants.

20th Annivesary of Chernobyl

AN4R is part of an international coalition planning to commemorate 20th anniversary of the world's worst industrial accident at Chernobyl in April 2006.

Sierra Club

 

10 Things You Can Do To Help

 

When a deadly question has no answer

Rochelle's letter to the editor in answer to Victor Dricks.

Blakeslee takes First Legislative Action on Seismic and Radioactive Waste Vulnerabilities in 20 years - SB 1632

The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility has sent a letter of support for San Luis Obispo's Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee's bill, - AB 1632. This is a ground breaking step to address both high-level radioactive waste and seismicity on our precious coast. It is our position that this bill is not about a good neighbors, jobs, property taxes or other benefits from a nuclear plant on an earthquake active coastal zone. It is about lethal radioactive waste left on our county’s earthquake active coast for generations long after the last job, the last property tax payment, the last kilowatt has flowed from PG&E’s nuclear plant.

NRC not taking threat seriously

David Weisman responds to Victor Dricks December 28 Viewpoint in the SLO Tribune

California's Nukes: Contemplating Ground Zero

Could a nuclear accident really happen in California?

Will siren tests protect us from radiation?

When you hear sirens testing the alert system for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, will you know what you should do if this alert was for real? The sirens are intended to "alert residents to turn on their radios or television and await emergency instructions." Yet in the event of a radioactive release due to an accident, earthquake, operator error, terrorism or acts of malice and insanity, it is highly likely that there will be no electricity to power radios and televisions.

THE GIFT OF HOPE

 

A FEW OF OUR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION SUCCESSES

 

Internal Memo

 

GOALS FOR 2007

 

Viewpoint: 40 years too long: It’s time to end era of nuclear power

The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility believes that 40 years is enough. The state has passed legislation — without a single "no" vote — directing the California Energy Commission to analyze the costs, benefits and risks of the state’s reliance on aging nuclear plants, acknowledging the threat to California’s economy if we do not plan for a reliable energy future. This study will now determine whether nuclear reactors will be reliable, safe and — because our money does not grow on trees — economically viable until 2045.

RADIATION: THE MYTH OF THE MILLIREM

This is a wonderful fact sheet provided by NIRS. There is a link at the bottom of the fact sheet to access a PDF version.

RE: Docket No. PRM-51-10 – Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Comments in Support Massachusetts Attorney General’s Petition for Rulemaking

Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Comments in Support Massachusetts Attorney General’s Petition for Rulemaking

Viewpoint: Head off head start on Diablo renewal

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) intends to gamble your money on a utility study that will have little, if any, relevance to energy supplies, rates and reliability 15 years from now.

Don't ignore renewed nuclear debate

California must not abandon our state's responsible moratorium on siting new nuclear plants until the considerable problem of highly radioactive waste is solved. This and other nuclear power issues will be discussed in San Clemente at a forum hosted by Patt Morrison of NPR affiliate KPCC. The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.

Confessions of a Anti-Nuke Jerk - Or Why It Feels Good to be Smeared by Patrick Moore

 

Shifting Ground: Earthquakes and the Future of Nuclear Power

 

The Queen of Ratepayer Advocates - Sylvia Siegel

Sylvia Siegel, a tireless and sharp-tongued crusader who founded the utility-battling consumer group TURN on her kitchen table in 1973, died Saturday, August 18, 2007 at a home in Marin County. Ms. Siegel, who at 71 predicted she would live to 84 because "that sounds like a good number," died from complications of old age, according to her daughter Polly Siegel. She was 89. She was an amazing woman and an inspiration to all.

INITIATIVE AIMS TO REPEAL CALIFORNIA NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS LAW

A nuclear energy initiative that would repeal California’s landmark Nuclear Safeguards Act was released today. “This initiative would open the door for new nuclear power plant construction throughout the state before—as the existing law requires—the federal government has approved and demonstrated a solution for the safe storage of high level radioactive waste.”

Grandparents Day: What wisdom and heritage are we leaving to our grandchildren?

So why on earth should the “baby boom” grandparents allow our government to leave these financial risks to our grandchildren, especially when there is no guarantee that that these nuclear plants will be finished and actually produce kilowatts in time to stop global warming disasters?

Press Releases

 

UCS has developed a new web-tool for nuclear power plant safety information.

This new tool, called the Nuclear Power Information Tracker, is available at: www.ucsusa.org/nucleartracker. The tool features a map of the continental United States with color-coded cooling tower icons showing the location of nuclear power reactors. The default map shows the location of all operating, permanently closed, and proposed nuclear reactors. As the cursor moves across the map face, the names of the states and the individual nuclear plants will pop up.

The Morality of Nuclear Power: An Ignatian Discernment

Goal. The purpose of this paper is to propose a time-honored method of coming to a moral decision (Ignatian discernment). We will take this decision-making process step by step through four phases dealing with whether new nuclear power plants should be constructed to replace those older ones that are being phased out due to retirement. In the past we have used this process and it works. Our purpose is to persuade the reader as to the efficacy of this procedure both to increase their own understanding as concerned citizens and to give them a means of passing the method on to others who are part of the policy-making process.

On U.S. Energy Policy - Clean, cheap energy? Not really

Nuclear power is billed by Christine Todd Whitman and other nuclear advocates as the cure for summertime power outages, but that's exactly when nuclear power is the least dependable. Nuclear reactors demand a constant flow of cold water to keep their radioactive core cooled, and any disruption to that flow can cause a catastrophic upset.

TRADITION OF HOPE

 

SONGS Maps

 

"THERE IS NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC"

 

Ratepayers should not be forced to pay for SCE to determine whether it can profit from another 20 years of operating its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

 

The Future of Nuclear Power - by Robert D. Furber, James C. Warf, and Sheldon C. Plotkin

Robert D. Furber is a retired physicist and astrodynamicist. James C. Warf, emeritus professor of nuclear chemistry at the University of Southern California, holds four patents for the extraction of plutonium from nuclear fission waste. Sheldon C. Plotkin is a consulting systems and safety engineer in private practice. All have varying and diverse experience in nuclear power and are members of the Southern California Federation of scientists.

NGO perspective on NRC's EP rulemaking process

We, the undersigned representatives of non-governmental organizations who participated in the recent NRC emergency preparedness rulemaking process and who have engaged the NRC more broadly on this subject for many years prior to this latest effort, understand that the NRC staff views this rulemaking effort as a shining example of how the process should work. We do not understand how the NRC staff acquired this notion. From our perspective, the process was an abysmal failure that should never have happened, let alone be replicated.

Nuclear Power Has No Future in California/Assemblymember Lloyd E. Levine - 40th Assembly District

Here we go again. The issue of renewing the development of nuclear power is rearing its ugly head under the guise of making California the happiest, greenest place on Earth. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing this Disney-like scenario and it needs a reality check. Nuclear power simply has no future in California's new energy era.

Please sign the petition: Independent Commission to Investigate the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

 

The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility leads successful effort to retain California's nuclear safeguard laws.

 

California Energy Circuit - GUEST JUICE - Nukes in Fresno?

 

Schwarzenegger goes nuclear? TAKE ACTION NOW!!

We ask you to please send a copy of the sample letter (see below) or similar letter to the Governor ASAP.

STOP Southern California Edison from raising your electric rates — while you still have a chance to say something. . .

Southern California Edison (SCE) is requesting millions of dollars in rate increases over the next few years. Among the items you’d be asked to pay for is a $15 million in-house study of license renewal for its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, Sierra Club, CALPIRG, Environment California Research and Policy Center and California Church IMPACT oppose funding for this study, and here’s why:

Forget Nuclear

Nuclear power, we’re told, is a vibrant industry that’s dramatically reviving because it’s proven, necessary, competitive, reliable, safe, secure, widely used, increasingly popular, and carbon-free—a perfect replacement for carbon-spewing coal power. New nuclear plants thus sound vital for climate protection, energy security, and powering a growing economy. There’s a catch, though: the private capitalmarket isn’t investing in new nuclear plants, and without financing, capitalist utilities aren’t buying. The few purchases, nearly all in Asia, are all made by central planners with a draw on the public purse. In the United States, even government subsidies approaching or exceeding new nuclear power’s total cost have failed to entice Wall Street.

New Reactors, Same Old Risks - Making You Pay for the Next Chernobyl ... in Advance!

Are you ready to pay for the next Chernobyls - in advance? Are you willing to have nuclear power prevent a solution to the climate crisis?