Jenkinsville Community Making the NRC Sweat!

If you believe all the hype, you might think that communities surrounding nuclear reactors think they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I’ve heard members of the nuclear elite tout the opposite of NIMBYism in nuclear communities, actually insinuating that these communities will beg for more reactors.

But in Jenkinsville, SC where VC Summer Unit One has been operational for 24 years and where South Carolina Electric & Gas wants to site two more nuclear reactors, public sentiment is far from supportive.  Over the last month, throughout the entire Nuclear Regulatory Commission scoping process for the draft Environmental Impact Statement, community members have been standing up and speaking out!  They’re furious that the NRC has been asking them to make public comment on a  process they don’t understand and haven’t been helped to understand.  These are community members that want to continue to live and grow and thrive in Jenkinsville, but have seen the very real devastation that the first reactor has brought to their community and don’t want more of the same.

By raising their voices and demanding more transparency, the community was able to push back the deadline for written comments by a month and have the NRC dancing to cover themselves.  In fact, the NRC is now hosting an additional meeting for the community that breaks from tradition.  Instead of the normal, oppressive and alienating meeting format that discourages real public comment, the NRC will be working within an “open house format” this Saturday, March 28th to take questions and comments on site.

Over the summer I lived in Jenkinsville, trying to build relationships and get a sense of community sentiment around the proposed expansion.  Just trying to get people to talk about the site and to be honest about their concerns was difficult.  Many folks felt intimidated by the utility or thought they were the only people concerned.

The community has now invited me back twice to facilitate meetings of community opposition.  It all started small, one group of four community members, largely elders in the community, but we cleared up some misconceptions and planned to meet again, trying to at least bring one more person each, but refusing to be discouraged by small numbers.  That following Tuesday we had thirteen community members in the room and plans to make sure community members get their written comments in as possible.

This Saturday, community members will be sitting at a table throughout the NRC “open house” helping each other articulate their concerns in the form of written comments.   Recognizing that they’ve already created unprecedented change within the way the NRC functions, community members are very committed to making sure that as many community members as possible add their voice to the chorus of opposition forming within the Jenkinsville community, so that this unreality of a community begging for more reactors is thoroughly dispelled!  Once a community expected to roll over and accept any expansion at VC Summer, Jenkinsville is raising Cain and making the NRC pay attention!

Georgia Pro-Coal Legislation Shut-down

Since early July 2008, after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore ruled that the air-permits granted to the proposed Long Leaf Energy Facility (read: dirty dirty coal plant) should be revoked, Georgia’s pro-coal legal guru’s King and Spalding have been working tirelessly to prepare for an upcoming state supreme court battle, and to create loopholes that would allow their clients LS Power to begin construction on the Blakely Georgia facility.

The bill, SB 229, would require state administrative judges (those folks who hear permit appeals from the Environmental Protection Division) to defer their rulings to the Department of Natural Resources. Environmental and justice organizations who support a fair and equitable process, argued that the bill would have stripped state administrative judges of any meaningful and partial judgements, while giving DNR relative immunity from judicial review.

The bill, though, was defeated in the State Senate 26-25 this week.

Judge Moore, in her ruling that overturned DNR’s granted air-permit, specifically cited (among other things including a supreme court case which cited Carbon Dioxide as a regulatable emission) that a lower court judge had given too much deference to DNR in it’s decision.

Tales from Florida on Power Shift #1

~Youth for Power Shift~
Submitted by Noel LaPlume
Student at Miami Dade Community College in Florida

From the moment our group of 11 people from Miami, FL set foot on the pleasantly cold city of Washington, D.C. we were afflicted by the excitement that penetrated the air. Apparently it was a widespread epidemic, with over 12,000 young people from all over the states convened together for a long weekend with one sole purpose in mind- to rock the House for Power Shift ’09. On Friday night we kicked-off the convention with a series of motivational speakers which were nothing short of excellent, followed by a series of workshops and two great concerts that left us in a sensationally groovy mood.

By the time Monday rolled around, the adrenaline was kicking in to our system as we entered the Congressional House to meet with our Representatives. This turned out being fun rather than stressful since they tended to be inclined to listen to our inspirational voices demanding change- one that would turn our fossilized fossil fuel system to an updated one fueled by alternative energy. They understood. Each and every voice expressed the desperate need to fix the pool of mistakes we have been swimming in for such a long time. Representative Kendrick Meek understood the urgency of the message we were trying to convey to him – it is no longer acceptable to keep swimming idly because precious time is being wasted while millions of ecosystems are suffering from it. Rep. Meek started telling us of strategies we could use to further work in our local town. On the other hand, not every representative in the House and Senate has the ability to see the benefits of investing in this, most are brutally short-sighted and can’t see beyond the end of their own agenda. For this reason, we rallied in front of Capitol Hill amongst thousand of our fellow comrades, where we chanted for a better, cleaner and safer future. Then, many of us continued on to march toward a coal power plant located just a few blocks away from the Capitol. Believe it or not; there we assembled strong and united and carried on our support for a sustainable earth by blocking the entrances to the dirty plant. We endured cold temperatures with inadequate protective clothes for snow, and became very ill because of it, but I know that there are many more hardships to come and I welcome them with glee, for protecting The Earth is the greatest challenge and greatest satisfaction any one person can every experience and so we must keep going strong until we prove them wrong.

Now back home, preparations have begun to spread the good news and experience gained at the capital. The goal is that all 12,000 of us, together but separate, work locally to produce a massive Power Shift in both infrastructure and general philosophy. I’m so excited. Are you? Don’t fret, we’re in this together. Get ready, set, GO !

Plant Washington Air Permit Hearing

On the heals of shutting down our nations capitol coal plant and 12,000 young people attending Powershift last week, Sandersville GA residents and friends of Washington County came together to voice strong opposition to the proposed Plant Washington power plant. The hearing last night gave direct democracy a chance to tell Georgia Environmental Protection Division and Power4Georgians that investing in a dirty fossil fueled future is not the right way for Georgia.

Around 300 people came last night and packed into an auditorium at Sandersville Technical College. During the Q&A many voiced strong opposition to the proposed plant. Of the 20 questions asked (though many more sought to have their questions answered) 15 were in opposition to the plant.

Just today, 2 more coal plant plans were dropped, 1 in Nevada and 1 in Iowa. A new record in our fight against dirty energy, 2 plants going offline! Hopefully we can build on this momentum and shut down Plant Washington. Please contact Rick LaTorra for more info on how to get involved.

Victory at Capitol Climate Action!

Wow! Yesterday’s Capitol Climate Action was amazing: shutting down the gates to the coal plant for 4 hours with no arrests! There were more than 2500 people from around the United States (including 100s from the Southeast!) and even the world participating including Dr. James Hansen, Vandana Shiva, Robert Kennedy Jr., and members from a variety of organizations fighting for clean energy and against coal extraction and new coal plants around the country! Folks affected most by coal extraction were at front of the march including folks from Black Mesa Water Coalition, Coal River Wind, Coal River Mountain Watch, Ketuckians for the Commonwealth and more! Many were excited by the announcement last week by Pelosi & Reid to switch the plant from coal to natural gas as a first step, but we know natural gas isn’t clean and we need to switch away from fossil fuels entirely. As we marched, many chanted: “Let’s organize: no gas, no coal, no compromise!”
The story’s been covered by USA Today, Democracy Now!, Fox News, Huffington Post & more!
See lots of pictures and find out more about the action here