[NukeNet] NIRS Statement on S. Texas Reactor License Application

[Michael Mariotte]

NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SERVICE

6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340, Takoma Park, MD 20912

301-270-NIRS (301-270-6477); Fax: 301-270-4291, nirsnet at nirs.org;
www.nirs.org <http://www.nirs.org/>  

 

 

STATEMENT OF NIRS ON SOUTH TEXAS REACTOR APPLICATION

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            Contact: Michael Mariotte, Executive
Director

September 25, 2007
301-270-6477; 301-395-7463 (cell)

 

 

NEW REACTORS IN SOUTH TEXAS WOULD SET U.S. ENERGY POLICY ON MISGUIDED
COURSE

 

Today, NRG Energy said it is submitting an application to the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to build two new reactors at its South Texas
nuclear site. This is the first full application for a new reactor in
the U.S. in more than 30 years. 

 

This project is emblematic of the failures of U.S. energy policy to
effectively meet the needs of our nation. Nuclear power is a 20th
century technology in a new world of climate crisis and a future that
demands a distributed, sustainable approach to energy. Nuclear power
requires massive taxpayer subsidies and yet still cannot compete
environmentally with the sustainable energy technologies that will power
our future.

 

NRG Energy already has been quoted in the media (Washington Post,
September 25, 2007) as saying that "the whole reason" the company is
considering new nuclear reactors is taxpayer subsidies provided by
Congress and the Bush Administration in the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
These multi-billion dollar subsidies include taxpayer loan guarantees
for new reactors, tax credits for the first six reactors built, the
Price-Anderson Act limitation of utility liability for nuclear
accidents, and "risk insurance" to cover possible delays in the
licensing process.

 

Without taxpayer support, no utility would build a new atomic reactor,
and no financial institution would invest in a new reactor.

 

Moreover, the NRG Energy application would repeat one of the fundamental
mistakes of the first generation of nuclear power: the construction of
nuclear reactors without a feasible facility or plan for storage of the
lethal radioactive waste the reactor would produce. The Yucca Mountain,
Nevada, radioactive waste dump is on its last legs, and appears
increasingly unlikely to ever open. Even if it did, a new round of
nuclear construction would necessitate construction of another
radioactive waste dump as well-something no state in the country likely
would accept. After 50 years, one would think the lesson would have been
learned: building atomic reactors without a scientifically-sound waste
plan is folly.

 

Texas is blessed with enormous potential for wind and solar power, while
aggressive energy efficiency programs remain the cheapest, fastest and
cleanest method of addressing both electricity demand and the need to
quickly reduce carbon emissions. Construction of new reactors in Texas
would divert the resources needed to implement those efficiency programs
and help solar and wind reach their full potential-to the detriment of
Texans and all Americans. A recent study from American Council for an
Energy-Efficient Economy (summarized at
http://www.nirs.org/alternatives/sestudy10.pdf) shows that Texas can
meet all forecasted energy demand through energy efficiency and
sustainable energy technologies.

 

Both Texas and the United States deserve better than a greedy utility
feasting at the taxpayer trough to build another large polluting power
plant. We expect Texans to oppose the NRG Energy project, and we expect
to help Texans with their opposition.

 

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