|
|
| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Marketplace
|
|
Sections
|
|
Service Center
|
|
 |
|
Obama says nuclear power use a necessity
Published February 18, 2010
President Barack Obama’s announcement Tuesday that the federal government will provide $8.3 billion in loan guarantees for the Southern Company to build two next generation Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors at its Vogtle Nuclear Plant in Burke, Ga. may be good news for the Tennessee Valley Authority and the nuclear industry as a whole.
As a government agency TVA does not qualify for the loan guarantee program.
“President Obama’s statement and the loan guarantee program has no direct impact on Bellefonte or TVA plans. It does help in providing more reliable power with no greenhouse gases,” TVA spokesperson Terry Johnson told The Daily Sentinel Wednesday. “That is good for the country and good for TVA.”
Vogtle, in May 2009, replaced Bellefonte as NuStart’s preferred site for pursuing initial licensing efforts for the new reactor technology. It is the site of two operating nuclear reactors. The new units, 3 and 4, are expected to be operational by 2016 and 2017 respectively.
NuStart, a consortium of utility companies and nuclear reactor manufacturers, had initially selected Bellefonte as the site for its reference designation application process. It then determined it could complete the licensing process sooner at the Southern Co. plant “paving the way for subsequent combined construction and operating license applications,” TVA Vice President of Nuclear Generation Development and Construction Ashok Bhatnagar said at the time.
Bhatnagar said TVA would continue pursuing Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval at Bellefonte. The utility’s application for completion of one of two unfinished Babcock and Wilcox reactors at the site or a new Westinghouse AP1000 is one of 13 under consideration. Currently 104 nuclear plants supply 20 percent of the country’s energy needs.
“TVA is still looking at both units as alternatives,” Johnson said. “The environmental review, other studies and risk analyses are being wrapped up and completed.”
The TVA Board of Directors may consider a recommendation on Bellefonte at its April meeting scheduled to be held in Knoxville, Tenn.
President Obama spoke in favor of nuclear power generation during his State of the Union Address last month. His proposed 2011 budget requests a total of $54 billion in loan guarantees, up from $18.5 billion, to encourage construction of as many as 10 new nuclear plants. It has been 33 years since a new facility has started construction in the U.S.
Nuclear power has “serious drawbacks,” Obama said in making the announcement at the International Brotherhood of Electricians Local 26 in Lanham, Md. “But investing in nuclear energy remains a necessary step.”
“Whether it’s nuclear energy, or solar or wind energy, if we fail to invest in the technologies of tomorrow, then we’re going to be importing those technologies instead of exporting them,” Obama said. “We will fall behind. Jobs will be produced overseas, instead of here in the United States of America. And that’s not a future that I accept.”
During the construction phase up to 3,500 workers will be employed at the Vogtle plant. The facility will employ 800-900 workers when operational.
“The administration’s position on nuclear power appears to be becoming more supportive,” Johnson said. “Their position is likely to help TVA as well.”
Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 any new nuclear plants will be held to strict standards to include finding ways to safely dispose of waste, and avoid or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Vogtle Nuclear Plant is expected to cut carbon pollution by 16 million tons annually and to provide power for 1.4 million people.
“That’s like taking 3.5 million cars off the road,” Obama said. “What I hope is that with this announcement, we’re underscoring both our seriousness in meeting the energy challenge and our willingness to look at this challenge not as a partisan issue but as a matter that’s far more important than politics — because the choices we make will affect not just the next generation but many generations to come.”
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Comment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|