Supporters outnumber protesters at hearing on
proposed EFH nuclear reactors
Jan 6 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Elizabeth Souder/ The Dallas
Morning The Dallas Morning News
If the turnout for Tuesday's public meeting on expansion of the nuclear
plant is any sign, protesters might not pose much of a threat to Energy
Future Holdings' plans to build two new reactors.
Some representatives of state environmental groups and a few local people
expressed concern about the safety of the new reactor design, the impact on
local water supply and storing nuclear waste onsite.
"I maintain that these reactors are not necessary," said Karen Hadden,
executive director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development
Coalition, an advocacy group. "There are so many ways to build the local
economy without the risk of handling radioactive material."
Many more local politicians and business leaders stood up to tell the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which arranged the meeting, that EFH,
formerly TXU Corp., has long been a good neighbor.
"We're not new to this process or new to this relationship," said Somervell
County Judge Walter Maynard. "They've always been very good stewards of the
water and the air and the land."
Luminant, the division of EFH that operates the Comanche Peak nuclear plant,
filed an application last year to build and operate two new reactors here,
bringing the total number to four. The company proposed using a new reactor
design that hasn't yet been built.
Tuesday's meeting is part of the commission's official process to handle
those applications. The commission will consider input from the local
community when deciding whether to approve the license.
Hadden, who actively opposes nuclear plants around the state, agreed that
local opposition appeared small on Tuesday.
"I don't think that's unusual," she said. Many people in Somervell and Hood
counties work for the plant or know people who work for the plant, and "it
takes a lot of courage" to oppose plant expansion.
Further, several protesters complained that they first heard of the meeting
on Christmas Eve, though people who support the plant found out about the
meeting as early as December 17.
"It's definitely foul play," Hadden said.
Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, said he's "perturbed" about the notification
process.
He also called on the commission to study whether the nuclear reactors have
affected cancer rates in North Texas.
Luminant carefully prepared the groundwork for Tuesday's meeting. Jan
Caldwell, community relations manager for the nuclear plant, has met with
local officials to discuss the expansion.
Several commissioners courts and other political groups passed resolutions
supporting the plant, sometimes at Caldwell's suggestion. She also helped
write some resolutions.
A few supporters pointed out that nuclear plants don't emit greenhouse gases
while operating and don't emit the kind of pollution coal plants spew. Other
supporters sang the praises of Luminant.
"They've helped our economy to perform better than other places," said
Granbury mayor pro tem Lisa Johnson. "We wish Luminant a speedy and
successful application process."
Of course, community support could turn, as it did when TXU attempted to
build 11 new coal-fired power plants. After high-profile politicians and
business leaders publicly opposed the coal plants, TXU agreed to build only
three plants.
But for the nuclear reactors, there's likely a bigger threat: Paying for
them. Executives have said unless the U.S. government can guarantee loans
for the multi-billion-dollar expansion, the company cannot afford to build
the new reactors.
So far, the Department of Energy has only set aside enough money to
guarantee loans for a few of the dozens of new nuclear reactors that power
companies have proposed.
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