Dec 30 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Savannah Morning News, Ga.

Communities up and down the Savannah River and on both shores could be harmed by the 88 million gallons of water needed each day in running two proposed nuclear reactors near Waynesboro, an environmentalist group says.

State regulators shouldn't grant a permit for expansion of Plant Vogtle until more study is done, according to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a Georgia-based environmental group.

The group issued its warning in written testimony it filed recently with the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is considering whether to permit construction of the reactors.

But a spokesman for Georgia Power Co., the largest owner of Vogtle, said the additional water needed would be negligible -- just 1 percent of the average river flow.

However, power plants can consume three quarters of what's withdrawn or lose it as steam, making Plant Vogtle's increased average daily water usage equal to that of one-fourth of the state's population -- or as many as 2.3 million people use, the Southern Alliance said.

The water that's not consumed and returned to the river can raise the whole stream's temperature and endanger fish, especially when droughts lower the river level.

"Disruptions of water flow due to drought conditions could have a negative impact on ratepayers if the reactors were unable to operate or were forced to throttle back," said Sara Barczak, the group's program director in Savannah.

"Also, water usage and water consumption at the new reactors can have adverse impacts on existing and future competing energy and non-energy uses for the same water supply.

"This can affect the livelihood and long-term growth potential for businesses and communities both upstream and downstream from the proposed reactors."

She notes that in the last two summers three reactors in Athens, Ala., had to shut down or reduce operation to address water-temperature standards in the Tennessee River.

The cost to Georgia Power customers can be high if the company has to find electricity from other sources during reduced operations, Barczak argued.

The cost issue could be the hook that grabs the attention of the Public Service Commission, which usually relies on the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to issue water-related regulations, said commission spokeswoman Deborah Flannagan.

"It's unlikely that the PSC would do something that would second guess (EPD regulations), but we would look at the cost of compliance," she said.

The commission will hear oral testimony during the next three months and vote on Georgia Power's request in March. Anyone objecting to the permit could submit written testimony this month.

Georgia Power spokesman Jeff Wilson said the company isn't ready to respond to the written testimony.

"We have not completed a review yet of all of the testimony that was filed," he said.

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