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.

Although this bill falls short of the Alliance mission to end the production of high-level radioactive waste at Diablo Canyon when current licenses expire (mid 2020's), we are encouraged that after 20 years there is a reasonable and unemotional dialogue on aging nuclear reactors. The Alliance will continue to encourage support for the California Energy Commission’s cost, benefit and risk analysis of the state’s dependence on aging nuclear reactors post current license terms. We hope PG&E will view this as an opportunity to achieve the utility's goal of "wind, sun and water" as future energy supplies for our state. We also hope this will cause PG&E’s management to rethink the possibility of filing for a license renewal in 2010, fifteen years before current licenses are set to expire.

Our county should be proud that they have elected a representative who will work with all state legislators and oversight agencies to assure that his community is able to address issues that could devastate the economy and leave a legacy of fear each time the earth moves or a terrorist threatens our country. How can anyone oppose such a responsible state action to assure these issues are addressed and resolved long before a license renewal can be filed by California’s two operating nuclear utilities?

For the past two years the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility has been meeting with state representatives, energy groups, service and environmental organizations, businesses and oversight agencies in hope that Californians will begin to address issues of energy, waste, jobs, taxes, infrastructure, environment and economics of aging nuclear reactors. We are pleased that it is our Assemblyman who has taken the lead and we look forward to working with his office and all California representatives over the next few years.

We are also please that Senators from California’s other reactor communities and energy committees have agreed to co-sponsor this bill. This is a bipartisan effort due in large part from Assemblyman Blakeslee’s reputation as a legislator who will work openly to protect our community and our state. Co-authors of the Blakeslee bill include: Senators Chesbro (D) Humboldt, Kehoe (D) San Diego and Assemblymembers De La Torre, Evans and Harmon. The bill is also co-authored by the Chairs of both Senate and Assembly energy oversight Committees: Senator Escutia and Assemblyman Levine.

Among the first supporters for AB 1632 are the Sierra Club, Environment California, TURN, Environmental Priorities Network, ECOSLO, Physicians for Social Responsibility -LA.