Should we fix the problem or add to it?

California is NOT preempted from phasing out nuclear power plants and ceasing the production of high-level radioactive waste if it is in the state's best economic interest.

The economics of the nuclear power industry have never been presented in one forum. The nuclear economy exists in a kind of provisional reality, based on cradle to grave subsidies, exempted from financial liability for the real cost of an accident, and isolated and protected from the real-world economics of the energy market.

Adding to that dream-state, the federal government promised, when it granted operating licenses, that a way would soon be found to provide safe, permanent storage of the industry’s deadly byproduct. On that basis, utilities were were told to go ahead and build. Five decades later, the problem of high-level radioactive waste remains unsolved, yet the nuclear industry is now being urged to embark on another binge of construction. Subsidies and tax breaks that could be going to the research and development of clean, renewable, sustainable and affordable energy are earmarked to go to nukes instead.

More than 77,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste is temporarily stored adjacent to our nation’s rivers and oceans, awaiting indefinitely that safe, permanent storage. In California, 6000+ tons of high-level radioactive waste sits on our coast, with 200+ additional tons produced each year.

Enough is enough. California must assert our state's right to reject dependency on aging nuclear plants on our coast. Our state is the world’s 7th largest economy. To risk California’s economic viability by continuing down an expensive and dangerous nuclear path is an unacceptable risk.

The mission of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility is to amend current law to disallow license renewals for California’s existing aging nuclear plants. This is the message we will bring to the California Energy Commission workshop. Since January 2005, this is the message we have been bringing to California's state legislators, businesses and individuals.

This is a feasible project. Minds are opening to the dangers of old nuclear plants with expensive and degrading components. For the first time in decades, there is a dialogue among our state's representatives and oversight agencies to discuss whether the state should depend on nuclear power for future energy needs.

Phasing out the production of high-level radioactive waste on our coast is an achievable goal. Please join us.

Rochelle Becker, Executive Director Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility www.a4nr.org (858) 337 2703