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I look forward to some discussion of these ideas at our next
Sustainability WG meeting on the 26th.<br><br>
Don<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 01:02:22
-0700<br>
To: No Nukes List<br>
From: Don Eichelberger <done7777@sbcglobal.net><br>
Subject: framing<br><br>
From the 4/1/07 meeting on Nuclear Renewal<br>
<br>
Following are Project ideas, Nuclear framing issues and Legislative
responses gleaned from the meeting notes of the April 1 meeting on
nuclear resurgence, which I took. I hope this will help us
focus the issues and hone our arguments.<br>
<br>
Don<br>
<br>
I. Project Ideas<br><br>
1. We need an economic analysis of the original 1967 Certificate of
Public Necessity and Convenience. A lot could have changed in that
time and we should assess if the analysis made at the time is still
valid. <br>
2. We need to link nuclear power, nuclear weapons and global warming
allies more closely <br>
CalPIRG learned it is very hard to shut an operating plant. But
now, the plants operating license is coming to an end. The
Republican-packed NRC seems poised to allow a 20-year license extension
to any plant that requests it, and this is where PIRG is focusing its
efforts. <br>
<br>
They have issued a report on the high costs of nuclear power. They
are also involved on low level waste dumping, as well as working with
regional and national groups not to buy the line that nuclear power is an
answer to global warming.<br><br>
Abalone Alliance- Bush is pushing for a new generation of breeder
reactors to provide plutonium from spent fuel rods to provide mixed oxide
fuels (MOX). At nuclear facilities all over the US and world, there
are active groups, but there has been no major issue to coalesce around,
as of yet.<br>
Community Choice Aggregation needs to be pushed in more local
communities. Can be used to educate people about the energy they
are fed and how to get more local control of it. <br>
We need to work to get retail prices for solar energy fed in to the grid
by private home energy arrays (as is done in Europe). Rather than
offsetting wholesale rates with reversible metering, reimbursing retail
rates for the energy will give added incentive to go solar. <br>
Solar community needs to be mobilized. <br>
A campaign called Be part of the solution will put a solar array on
a private home for free and sell the energy at a reduced rate to the home
owner in a lease agreement. We need to identify ways we can get this kind
of info to consumers<br><br>
3. Fresno has been identified as a possible nuclear reactor site-
supported by IBEW and Fresno Mayor. Presents many Environmental
Justice issues as it is a very poor, largely Hispanic community.<br>
<br>
4. Waste routes is another important issue. DOE is willing to
concede to the state of Nevada and not carry wastes close by the states
largest city, Las Vegas. Instead, wastes from the southern states
will some through California, up the Central Valley and then back over
the Sierras and down to Yucca Mt. Outreach is beginning to
legislators along the proposed route to sign on to a joint resolution
opposing the plan. <br>
The Sacramento legislator did not know that radioactive waste was still
being stored at Rancho Seco. Running up against a lot of ignorance
on the issue. <br>
5. Seeking ways to get the dialogue started with investors about the
risks of license extensions. <br>
6. Help also needed for lobbying in Sac. <br>
7. Japan has started offering to build GE-type reactors and guaranteeing
investor investments. <br>
8. MoveOn.org or others need to be approached to do letter writing
campaigns.<br>
9. Blog-RSS Reader technology- Roger Herried, Abalone Alliance
SEC- New technology is evolving that can help us organize better
using the blogosphere. Using RSS readers, web logs can be set up
that can help with organizing in real time. Roger is willing to
help get people up to speed.
<a href="mailto:rogerh@energy-net.org">rogerh@energy-net.org</a> <br>
10. A4NR is promoting an international campaign to get everyone to turn
off all their lights for five minutes- 7:55-8 P.M. on the first of every
month, to call attention to safe energy and conservation. Been
doing it since 2/1. It not only sends a message, but has been shown
to save megawatts of power in some countries that have responded to it.
<br><br>
II. Nuclear Power Weaknesses To Exploit and Issues Raised<br><br>
Steam Generator Replacements-Steam generators at Diablo Canyon, San
Onofre and most other nuclear power reactors are becoming embrittled due
to radioactivity. They will need to be replaced, some after only
half of their expected life span<br>
<br>
Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility has told CEC that they are not doing
their job in not more closely overseeing the relicensing process.
CEC has not taken a strong role in nuclear oversight since Jerry Brown
was Governor. 2 weeks ago, they announced they would hold
hearings.<br>
<br>
In 2005 there was a 2-day national workshop that included DOE, Yucca
representatives, NRC, Bradford, Lovins, Harding and others. The
report conclusion:maintain the ban due to problems identified and a cost
analysis is needed for license extensions <br><br>
Other issues
<ul>
<li>Waste issue alone will not stop NP.
<li>Risk is an issue people respond to
<li>Energy security is another strong argument against nuclear
power, If an accident or attack happens at any nuke, likely that
all nukes will be turned off, putting the whole system at risk
<li>NRC safety considerations have not considered the scenario of a
nuclear employee going postal, despite the stresses of the job and
several incidences involving employee conduct in the last 6 months.
It is sobering to understand the power such an employee might be able to
help make go out of control
<li>How public opinion is formed around this issue needs to be addressed-
try to get artists involved to help educate the public.
<li>Pelosi, Clinton and others keep nukes on the table. Have been
lobbied to remove the option in American energy policy.
<li>Arjun Makhijani has done very thorough analysis
<a href="http://www.ieer.org">http://www.ieer.org</a>/
<li>Lovins and Makhijani both have info on global warming and economic
costs.
<li>We need to acknowledge the problems with global warming, and show how
nuclear power can only marginally mitigate it, at best, and then only
with massive investments that would take away from more effective
solutions. This is Makhijani’s thesis.
<li>A major point needs to be proliferation
<li>Developing countries hold nuclear power as a holy grail for
development, and needs to be addressed
<li>The US is reinvesting massively in nuclear weapons development, and
setting a double standard in the world
<li>And what’s with all this talk about safe nuclear reactors being built
in Pakistan, India, South Korea, etc.? This kind of disinformation
will be the hardest for us to confront
<li>Transportation sector adds a lot more global warming gasses than
electricity, and that needs to be addressed
<li>National Energy Commission and other national groups are pushing
nuclear power discretely
<li>We should focus on our efforts in CA. The issues is winnable
here, and we have some of the best representatives on the issue and the
ban on new nukes. State Attorney General Jerry Brown may be helpful,
also. Other states will be watching for victories here that they
can incorporate as precedent setting for their activities.
<li>Schwarzenegger, for better or worse, has made CA the leader in
opposing global warming. Lifting the nuke ban could send a very bad
message.
</ul><br>
III. Legislation- <br>
<br>
AB 1632- Legislation was needed to mandate the study, and AB 1632,
introduced by Blakeslee was passed and signed by Gov.
Schwarzenegger. <br>
<br>
NRC relicenses are pre-approved. Mandating PUC to call for studies
won’t help, as CPUC is no more trustworthy than NRC. The studies
were kept under the purview of CEC. A4NR is pushing for legislation
that will not allow license extension until the cost/benefit analysis is
complete and remediation implemented.<br>
<br>
Nuclear Energy Institute is leaning on PG&E not to back down on
Diablo Canyon.<br>
<br>
Leno and Huffman, sounded sympathetic to legislation on cost analysis for
license extensions.<br>
<br>
AB 719,
<a href="http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm">
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm</a> introduced by
DeVore and LaMalfa, would repeal the states ban on new nukes until waste
storage issues are resolved, citing the need to address global
warming. Both Assemblymen voted against the global warming bill
passed last year.<br>
<br>
It has been scheduled for an April 16th hearing of the Natural Resources
Committee, where it is expected to die, although calls, letters and
bodies at the hearing would be good to assure its demise.
<a href="http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=18">
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=18</a><br>
<br>
Everyone should send letters to committee members and legislators
opposing AB 719. <br><br>
A bill has also been introduced by Blakeslee calling for money for
emergency planning around nuclear power reactors. Office of
Emergency Services in San Diego told Rochelle that they did not need the
money as radiation dissipates after 10 miles<br>
<br>
Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility Report on legislation and lobbying is
looking for ways to amend the state ban on new nuclear plants to include
relicensing of existing plants.<br>
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