Fresno nuclear group doesn't get letter of support

Apr 15 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - John Ellis The Fresno Bee, Calif

A local investor group that wants to build a nuclear power plant in western Fresno County didn't get the letter of support it was seeking this week from Kings County supervisors.

But John Hutson, CEO of the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group, said Thursday he isn't worried because a majority of the five-member board supports the concept.

Still, it wasn't the outcome he wanted.

"I expected them to endorse it," Hutson said. "Everything I heard from them was a positive."

The members declined to approve the letter, he said, only because Fresno County has yet to say it is supportive of the concept.

Fresno Nuclear is working with Areva, a French energy conglomerate, to develop a 4,000-megawatt "energy park" in western Fresno County. The plans include two 1,600-megawatt nuclear reactors, as well as 800 megawatts from solar and photovoltaic sources.

Larry Spikes, the county's executive officer, said a majority of board members expressed support for the concept and also for continued research but took no formal position until they see what Fresno County -- the host county -- will do.

To date, only Phil Larson, chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, has drafted a letter in support of the project.

In Kings County, support wasn't unanimous.

Supervisor Richard Valle, for instance, said he had safety concerns.

The effort of Fresno Nuclear Energy Group -- which was formed in 2006 by a group of Fresno businessmen who signed a letter of intent with a power-plant developer to explore plans for a local nuclear reactor -- comes not long after the earthquake and tsunami that caused a nuclear crisis in Japan. But Hutson has often said that a nuclear power plant built today would be far safer than the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan.

Hutson is seeking support from the project from boards of supervisors across the region. On Tuesday, he will be in Merced County.

And he said he also will work toward gaining the approval of Fresno County supervisors.

The reporter can be reached at jellis@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6320.