YES WE CAN!
WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE - DONATE NOW
A Message from Rochelle
I am beginning to believe in this current political mantra. There is an excitement in the air and a new attitude that is refreshing. We are witnessing increasing doubt that nuclear is the energy source of the future and grave concern that the cost of nuclear will divert money from exciting alternative solutions to climate concerns.
Last month was spent on several productive projects that we believe will further our mission to limit the production of radioactive waste to current license terms for Diablo Canyon and San Onofre.
- SCE Requests $17 million, Alliance says steps to relicense the San Onofre Nuclear Station are premature.
The Alliance intervened with the Sierra Club, CALPIRG, Environment California Research and Policy Center and California Church Impact to question SCE's on its request for $17 million to study license renewal. It would be premature to charge ratepayers for the utility to study whether its aging reactors can limp along for 20 years after nuclear operating licenses expire. Though we could not afford legal representation we reviewed all relevant documents and asked questions of SCE on issues including: decommissioning, earthquake updates, water degradation from daily operation, radioactive waste, security, etc. We did make it clear to SCE and the California Public Utilities Commission that a decision to allow SCE to plan for license renewal means a diversion of funding to replace aging reactors on our seismically active coast with truly renewable, safe and efficient energy. Letters to Commissioner Michael Peevey, President of the California Public Utilities Commission adding your voice to those opposing license renewal are very important ( http://a4nr.org/letters/07.07.2008-peeveyltrresongs/view )
- Lack of transparency and follow up on public concerns addressed
On June 12, 2008, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a conference call to discuss lack of recognition of public comments in final rulemaking on emergency planning. The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, Riverkeeper, Union of Concerned Scientists, NIRS, Greenpeace and other reactor safety organization addressed the perceived lack of recognition of public input or NRC follow up on comment provided to protect citizens from the possibility of radioactive exposure. This lack of transparency and willingness to respect the public’s participation will be addressed with Congressional Representatives this month in Washington, DC by the Alliance.
- The Alliance files to intervene with the Department of Energy commenting on impacts to California from the proposed Yucca Mountain radioactive storage site to shared water sources and radioactive waste transport.
For the past few years the Alliance has been educating California legislators on the impacts to California if Yucca Mountain should open. Twelve percent of the nation's waste is proposed to travel in and out of California in order to reach the repository. This proposed plan would expose millions of Californians to a possible radioactive release due to train or truck accident or sabotage. Who will pay to train and equip California's first responders? Who will pay to upgrade our rails and roads for these heavy radioactive shipments? How will these shipments impact on time delivery of commercial freight, especially on old and single track rail systems? All questions yet to be resolved by the DOE, DOT or the NRC.
- A4NR represented at Nation Activist Summit on Nuclear Waste.
On May 29 Molly Johnson flew to Columbia, South Carolina to attend the National Activist Summit on Nuclear Waste. Approximately 75 anti-nuclear activists from around the country attended this two-day summit. Molly helped to lead a workshop panel that discussed state's rights and responsibilities in regards to nuclear power and nuclear waste. Many other topics regarding nuclear waste were discussed and many actions items were planned to come out of this summit meeting. Look for National Cask-et Day and other national days of action. We'll also be letting you know about other actions to be taken in the future.
- Alliance outreach coordinator David Weisman has completed a 30 minute version of the documentary video, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nuclear Power - but were afraid to ask. The finished DVD will be available for community access television stations, public screenings and town meetings, and each individual segment will be posted via You Tube later this summer. Check back to www.a4nr.org for an announcement and link when the clips are ready to be viewed.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug 7th CEC public hearing on draft cost, benefit and risk analysis of California's dependence on aging nuclear reactors in Sacramento. If you are interested in attending this hearing in Sacramento and would like to carpool please let us know and the Alliance will coordinate transportation.
Oct 29th and 30th We are delighted to announce Dr. Arjun Makhijani, author of Carbon Free Nuclear Free a roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy and S. David Freeman, author of Winning Our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How, will be speaking at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Oct 29, 2008 and at USD in San Diego Oct 30th. They will share the insights of their new books update their conclusions. There will be a benefit with both men for the Alliance following the event. Mark the date on your calendar — you won’t want to miss it!
Please support the Alliance efforts to end production of highly-radioactive waste on our coast by 2025. Listed below are some of our average costs for doing this public advocacy, and how you can help offset these expenses.
- $150 - a round-trip ticket to Sacramento to educate our legislators and oversight agencies
- $100 – a hotel for one night on trips or speaking engagements to educate California ratepayers as well as Sacramento and Washington, DC representatives
- Donation of frequent flyer miles
- Donation of hotel coupons
Any amount helps, but these are our major expenses.
To sign up for newsletter and/or alerts: www.a4nr.org
In Peace
Rochelle
WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE - DONATE NOW
Rochelle Becker, Executive Director Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility
www.a4nr.org
(858) 337 2703
Upcoming Events
Important events for the Alliance
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NRC TO HOLD TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT DIABLO CANYON NUCLEAR PLANT ON MAY 28
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Breaking News
Here's the latest news
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Will the Nuclear Power "Renaissance" Ever Reach Critical Mass?
Despite an abundance of plans and applications, new nuclear reactors outside of Asia are few and far between, which puts nuclear's contribution to fighting greenhouse gas emissions at risk
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Radiation Authority Sees Serious Safety Problems at Nuclear Building Site
The Finnish Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority STUK says that the construction of the commercial nuclear reactor in Olkiluoto, which is to be the world’s largest, has not proceeded according to official requirements.
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At the Indian Point Nuclear Plant, a Pipe Leak Raises Concerns
The discovery of water flowing across the floor of a building at the Indian Point 2 nuclear plant in Buchanan, N.Y., traced to a leak in a buried pipe, is stirring concern about the plant’s underground pipes and those of other aging reactors across the country.
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Regulators to address 'performance deficiencies' at San Onofre
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sending a team to south Orange County on May 7 to discuss what NRC officials describe as continuing "performance deficiencies" at the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
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A nuclear power renaissance? Maybe not
Don't expect more than three new plants to be built in the next 10 years, experts at a session on nukes at Fortune's Brainstorm: Green conference agree.
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No need to build new U.S. coal or nuclear plants -- FERC chairman
No new nuclear or coal plants may ever be needed in the United States, the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said today. "We may not need any, ever," Jon Wellinghoff told reporters at a U.S. Energy Association forum.
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Efficiency Alone Could Cut 30 Percent of U.S. Electric Use and Avoid Need for 60 Percent of Coal-Fired Generation, New Rocky Mountain Institute Report Finds
Closing a national "electric productivity gap" could curtail up to 30 percent of current electric power consumption nationwide, according to a report released today by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Assessing the Electric Productivity Gap and the U.S. Efficiency Opportunity.
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A4NR JOINS CA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATIONS IN OPPOSING THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION’S (NRC) PROPOSAL TO GUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ALLOW HIGH LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE TO REMAIN AT REACTOR SITES INDEFINITELY
The Alliance joined a coalition of organizations in filing responses to the NRC’s Proposed Findings relating to the NRC’s handling of increasing stockpiles of highly radioactive waste. In addition, the Western States Conference of Governors and California’s Attorney General filed separate comments on the NRC’s Findings.
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Nuke-plant parts creeping up coast to San Onofre - Steam generators to be replaced
Two heavy nuclear power-plant replacement parts have crawled across seven miles of beach, rolled slowly along a busy freeway and crept through a state campground on their two-week journey from Camp Pendleton's Del Mar Boat Basin to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
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Experts say Vt. Yankee's nuke waste is here to stay
A4NR NOTE: The information in this article pertains not only to Vt. Yankee, but to every other nuclear power plant in the US.
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A $50 Billion Nuke Power Bomb is Dropping Toward Obama’s Stimulus Package
The desperate, dangerous nuclear power industry has dropped a $50 billion stealth bomb meant to irradiate the Obama Stimulus Package. . . .Numerous national groups, including the Nuclear Information & Resource Service (www.nirs.org) are providing sign-ins for sending e-mails to the Senate. They also urge that you call your Senator at 202-224-3121.
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Warning to Taxpayers, Investors: Nukes May Become Troubled Assets
Nuclear plants with such incredibly expensive electricity and “out of control” capital costs, as Time put it, obviously create large risks for utilities, their investors, and, ultimately, taxpayers. Congress extended huge loan guarantees to new nukes in 2005, and the American people will be stuck with another huge bill if those plants join the growing rank of troubled assets (see “Nuclear energy revival may cost $315 billion, with taxpayers’ risking over $100B”).
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The Staggering Cost of New Nuclear Power
A new study puts the generation costs for power from new nuclear plants at 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour—triple current U.S. electricity rates!
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Regulators spot another blunder at nuclear plant - Backup battery was not connected properly for years
Federal regulators yesterday cited another lapse at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, this time because the plant's staff didn't notice that a backup battery for safety systems was inoperable between 2004 and 2008. The poorly connected battery is the latest in a string of mistakes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found at the power plant, which is run by Southern California Edison and includes San Diego Gas & Electric as a minority owner.
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WIND, WATER, AND SUN BEATS OUT BIOFUEL, NUCLEAR, AND COAL?
[Rachel's introduction: Stanford engineer Mark Z. Jacobson has conducted the first quantitative evaluation of the major energy solutions, assessing not only their potential for delivering energy for electricity and vehicles, but also their impacts on global warming, human health, energy security, water supply, space requirements, wildlife, water pollution, reliability and sustainability. His findings indicate that the options that are getting the most attention are between 25 to 1,000 times more polluting than the best available options.]
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Nuclear power company eyes decommissioning of 2 reactors due to stiffer quake standards
Chubu Electric Power Co. is considering decommissioning two reactors at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant and building a new reactor in response to tougher earthquake resistance standards, it has been learned.
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California: Nuclear plants may need $5.6 billion in cooling retrofits
The California Energy Commission on Nov. 20 adopted a report warning that the state's two nuclear plants may be required to conduct more than $5.6 billion worth of cooling system retrofits if another state agency adopts regulations to outlaw the "once-through" cooling systems both plants use.
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Earthquake fault discovered offshore of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials announced today that they have discovered a new earthquake fault offshore of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
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Most States Can Be Energy Independent, New Report Shows
A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) suggests that at least half of the fifty states could achieve energy self-sufficiency with the help of locally-focused federal energy policy. The findings should inform the energy policy of President-elect Barack Obama.
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State poll: People like wind power, not nuclear waste
A new type of polling done for the Department of Public Service found most respondents "extremely concerned" about nuclear waste and so supportive of wind power they wouldn't mind a wind farm within sight of their homes.
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Recent Articles
Recent articles of interest posted on the ANR website
Will the Nuclear Power "Renaissance" Ever Reach Critical Mass?