[NukeNet] PG&E looking at nuclear plants

[MoJo]

PG&E looking at nuclear plants
Alternative power sources being explored

- David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
http://www.sfgate. com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi? file=/chronicle/ archive/2006/ 11/29/BUGPNMLIAH 1.DTL&type= business

[foto] The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, south of San Luis Obispo, 
is owned by PG&E, which is exploring the possibility of out-of-state 
investments in nuclear plants. Chronicle photo by Paul Chinn

PG&E Corp. is considering investments in new nuclear plants outside 
California as a way to curb greenhouse gases, Chief Executive Officer 
Peter Darbee said Tuesday at an employee meeting on energy efficiency 
and climate change.

Other possible investments include solar power plants that use focused 
mirrors to heat water, generate steam and run electrical turbines.

California law forbids building more nuclear plants within the state 
until the United States has a permanent site for storing radioactive 
waste. But Darbee, whose San Francisco company owns the Diablo Canyon 
nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, argues that the country needs 
nuclear power if it hopes to fight global warming.

Nuclear reactors do not produce the greenhouse gases churned out by 
plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas.

Darbee's remarks Tuesday were the second time he has publicly embraced 
nuclear development. He told Wall Street analysts in August that the 
company was exploring out-of-state nuclear projects.

He offered few new details at Tuesday's event, saying that the PG&E is 
still "evaluating those opportunities. "

Nuclear power, once treated as a pariah by the American public, has 
received renewed interest due to fears of global warming.

Some environmentalists have been willing to give nuclear technology a 
second look. Most, however, haven't. They argue that nuclear plants are 
too expensive, potentially dangerous and produce waste that the nation 
still hasn't found a place to store.

Ralph Cavanagh, co-director of the energy program at the Natural 
Resources Defense Council, said the United States would have built more 
nuclear plants over the years if they weren't such financial risks. He 
spoke at Tuesday's PG&E meeting and praised the company for its 30-year 
efforts to promote energy efficiency.

Cavanagh said in an interview that he doubts the company will invest in 
more nuclear power once it has examined the alternatives.

"I express to you absolute confidence that after Peter Darbee looks at 
this, he won't pick nuclear," Cavanagh said. "He has limited funds. He 
cannot write blank checks."

Darbee has broken with many of his peers in the energy business on the 
climate change issue.

Shortly after taking over as PG&E's chief executive last year, Darbee 
studied the science surrounding global warming and concluded that 
climate change poses a grave threat. Since then, he has called for a 
nationwide system to limit greenhouse gases, supported California's 
landmark global warming legislation this year and urged other energy 
companies to follow suit.

"There are critics who might say, 'Is Peter on a crusade with this?' But 
it's smart business, too," Darbee told employees at the meeting, held at 
the company's San Francisco headquarters.

Darbee also expressed interest in a type of solar technology that, he 
said, could prove to be more cost-effective than traditional 
photo-voltaic cells. Dubbed "solar thermal," the technology uses focused 
sunlight to generate steam and power a turbine.

E-mail David R. Baker at dbaker at sfchronicle. com.

Page C - 3
URL: 
http://sfgate. com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi? file=/chronicle/ archive/2006/ 11/29/BUGPNMLIAH 1.DTL
©2006 San Francisco Chronicle


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