[NukeNet] CA legislators try to lift nuke ban

[Mike Ewall]

Allaince for Nuclear Responsibility
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rochelle Becker, Executive Director 858-337-2703

LEGISLATORS MOVE TO STRIKE DOWN BAN ON NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS IN CALIFORNIA

March 2, 2007
For Immediate Release

Two California State Assembly members have introduced legislation to 
lift the ban on additional nuclear generation in California, despite 
the failure of the federal government to solve the problem that 
caused California to enact the ban.

AB 719 (DeVore, La Malfa) states: "Current California law prohibits 
the permitting of any new commercial nuclear powerplants until an 
approved means of disposal of high-level nuclear waste becomes 
available. With federal efforts well underway to provide an approved 
means of high-level nuclear waste disposal, and given that timelines 
for nuclear powerplant design, permitting, construction, on line 
operation, and first refueling would likely be in excess of 10 years, 
by the time a powerplant would be ready for operation, an approved 
high-level nuclear waste disposal means will be available."

"This cart couldn't be put any farther before the horse," commented 
Rochelle Becker, Executive Director of the California Alliance for 
Nuclear Responsibility. "Federal efforts to find an approved means of 
disposal have been 'well under way' since California's current 
nuclear plants got their permits in the late 60's. Although 
ratepayers have spent over $18 million to date on the search for a 
way to get rid of the waste, federal efforts have proven to be empty 
and expensive promises."

California's 1976 moratorium on nuclear plants has prevented the 
state from coming to resemble the Eastern seaboard and Midwest, which 
are now covered by and dependent on aging nuclear plants. More than 
70,000 tons of high level radioactive waste now sits on fragile 
waterways and seismically active coasts.

According to Platts.com, an industry media outlet, "Pacific Gas & 
Electric Corporation CEO Peter Darbee recently said his company would 
welcome a partner to invest in nuclear generation outside of 
California. Southern California Edison President John Fielder last 
week said his company is tracking developments in the nuclear 
industry."  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is focusing on existing 
sites for proposed construction of new nuclear plants. The Diablo 
Canyon nuclear facility was originally designed for six nuclear 
reactors. Other existing sites include Rancho Seco, Humboldt and the 
San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station in San Diego County.

The introduction of AB 719 follows the announcement by Fresno Nuclear 
LLC that it has committed 10 million dollars to investigate 
construction of a nuclear plant operating in conjunction with the 
city's waste water facility. One problem with this plan is the 
inability of the nuclear industry to estimate what nuclear power will 
cost when complete, a record on view in California's history with 
nuclear cost overruns. The state's two operating reactor sites, both 
estimated to cost under  $500 million, had final costs ranging from 
just under $5 billion at San Onofre to $5.7 billion at Diablo Canyon.

AB 719 is being touted as the "Zero Carbon Dioxide Emission 
Electrical Generation Act of 2007" by its sponsors. "The mantra that 
nuclear power is the answer to global warming is gaining in 
popularity," notes Becker, "despite the reality that it would take 
2,000 new reactors, built at a cost of trillions of dollars,to make 
any kind of dent in greenhouse gas emissions, and the fact that 
decentralizedclean power and energy efficiency are already 
demonstrating that they deliver far more climate change-fighting bang 
for the buck than nuclear can.

"While we're tempted to join the general sentiment in Sacramento where
the response from legislators has been to laugh this bill off, we are 
reminded that when you say something over and over, and the media 
repeats it, the public begins to believe that rumors are true."

In July, the California Energy Commission will undertake a study of 
the costs, benefits and risks of California's reliance on existing 
nuclear plants.