Debunking GNEP, Defending South Carolina, Georgia and the planet!

The Department of Energy has been hosting Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement scoping meetings all across the country to solicit public input on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership program being pursued by the federal government and last night they were in Graniteville, SC.

GNEP is a program designed to encourage the expansion of nuclear energy, decrease the likelihood of nuclear proliferation and address the massive problem of nuclear waste by “closing” the nuclear fuel cycle and reprocessing nuclear waste.  Unfortunately, it only really succeeds in expanding nuclear energy.  Meanwhile, nuclear reprocessing:

• creates more dangerous nuclear waste streams (meaning it doesn’t “close” the nuclear fuel cycle at ALL)
• creates orphaned, weapons-grade plutonium in quantities vulnerable to theft and proliferation (we can thank nuclear reprocessing for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program)
• will cost taxpayers a massive 700 billion dollars
• emits 150,000 times more radiation than traditional nuclear reactors
• has been linked to heightened levels of childhood leukemia around existing facilities
• would essentially condemn any site chosen for a reprocessing facility to being a national nuclear wasteland, since spent fuel can be shipped to location now, before the technology is created that can reprocess that waste

For all these reasons, concerned citizens and young people from South Carolina and Georgia stood up and spoke out against the broader program and the siting of a nuclear reprocessing facility at the Savannah River Site on the border between the two states.  Opponents stuck to the facts and argued that GNEP was a bad decision, challenging the DOE to pursue an energy legacy that ends the nuclear fuel cycle instead of “closing” it.  We cannot afford to let our country tout this dirty, false solution to climate change any more.  All across the country citizens have had enough and let the DOE know about it!

For more information, check out:  www.bubbasnofool.org

and to submit comment to the DOE, visit: GNEP PEIS and click on the bubble next to “add comments”

Rate payer wars rock South Carolina Public Service Commission

This Monday marked the beginning of what is planned to be a week long hearing before the South Carolina Public Service Commission in which South Carolina Electric & Gas is requesting a 37% rate increase (to be implemented over ten years), to pay for the construction of two new nuclear reactors in Jenkinsville, SC.  The 37% figure is somewhat dubious, as it is based on shockingly low cost estimates for the reactor project (half of what other utilities and the Department of Energy are forecasting as the cost for the very same reactor design).

Of course, SCE&G’s application for the permits to build the two new reactors are woefully inadequate in researching the potential for energy efficiency programs or renewable energy.  Instead of investing our money in a clean, safe, healthy energy future, SCE&G is trying to make ratepayers subsidize their dirty energy facilities.

During the two public comment periods, in which anyone could sign up to testify before the Public Service Commission, the opposition far outnumbered the support for this rate increase.  Young people and concerned citizens came out in droves to speak out in defense of rate payers, our planet and our people.  The final public comment period on Wednesday had to be extended by more than two hours to accomodate all that wanted to speak.  In addition to all the public comment made, dozens of written comments were submitted by concerned citizens all across the state.

Now we will have to wait for the PSC to deliberate before we know if SCE&G will be granted their requested rate increase.  Once this decision is made, it is final and will allow SCE&G a blank check and the option of increasing the rates even further to pay for their construction.  Even if the two new reactors are never built or never come online, the ratepayers have no way of recovering their money, thanks to legislation passed in South Carolina last year.

Regardless of the decision, though, South Carolina will not go down without a fight; we will continue to organize in opposition of this nuclear project even if we can’t protect our pocketbooks from a “Public Service” Commission with a questionable track record.

UCF Thinks Clean Coal is a “Die-in” Matter

Friday, November 14, 2008

GreenPeace amd RAN called for campuses across the country to hold a Coal Day of Action. The Eco Advocate’s of Central Florida at UCF responded.

On Friday, around 11am, we suited up for a theatrical display. Three of us laid on the ground, in a “die-in” fashion, all bloody and dirtied up with signs propped against our lifeless bodies that gave facts regarding coal mining and it’s effect on health and the environment. The rest of us were manned with flyers explaining the truth behind clean coal. Awareness was spread on companies that finance the coal industry and a petition was passed around asking Bank of America, a bank with ATMs and a branch on UCF property, to discontinue financing the coal industry. Our wonderful Coal Representative, “Coal B. Stinky”, informed people of the “wonders” of clean coal and how clean it really was. She offered coal (which was really charcoal) to passers-by and some were actually taking it!

We had a great time with this action. We passed out over 650 flyers and sparked up some very interesting conversation with those in need of more knowledge on the subject. Some opposing minds began to change and question the reality of clean coal after our demonstration. At the end of the action, we all headed to the Reflection Pond, in front of Millican Hall, the building that houses our high-level administration. We took a group picture with a banner that read “Coal is NEVER Clean” and sent it, along with our petition of over 60 signatures, to Bank of America.

NC Coal Plant Setback!

This just in last night. A ruling by the federal judge in Asheville revoked the 800 MW Cliffside coal plant air quality permit because it does not meet Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) regulations for mercury. This comes on the heels of a ruling by a DC circuit court earlier this year that the EPA’s 2005 mercury rule was illegal because it evaded mandatory cuts in toxic mercury pollution. NRDC and the Southern Environmental Law Center represented Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Sierra Club and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in this lawsuit. Duke Energy now has 70 days to update their technology and comply with the MACT and if they don’t the court has the ability to halt construction of the plant!! The ruling is available online at http://docs.nrdc.org/energy/ene_08120201.asp

Media release from NRDC, Southern Environmental Law Center and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy on this victory follows.