Tim Landis: Election May Have Bearing on Nuclear Power Plants

The State Journal-Register ^ | Posted Sep 14, 2008 | Tim Landis

[kellynla]

It has been quiet for several months at the CLINTON POWER STATION, 45 miles northeast of Springfield.

That could change with the November presidential election.

Both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have consistently included nuclear power — along with coal, wind, solar and biofuels — in their promises to wean the country from dependence on foreign oil.

There are variations, but the climate does appear to have changed, so to speak, when it comes to nuclear energy.

It has been 3 1/2 years since about 300 people, mostly for but some against, attended a public hearing at Clinton Junior High before representatives of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on a request from Exelon Corp. for an “early site permit” in the event the company decided to build a second nuclear reactor at Clinton.

Permit approval from regulators came in early 2007. An early site permit is not a construction permit. It merely gives the company 20 years to apply for a construction and operating license, with a 20-year renewal option. But Exelon did just receive a construction and operating license for a nuclear plant in southeast Texas and is considering its other options, said spokesman Craig Nesbit.

“Those are the only two things we have going right now, and there is no plan to do anything with the Clinton ESP, at least in the foreseeable future. But if we we’re to ever build another nuke in Illinois, Clinton is where it would probably be,” Nesbit said.

As for the presidential candidates, Nesbit said McCain has the strongest commitment to nuclear energy while Obama is “a little less certain.”

[I still care]

I remember years ago when they destroyed Shoreham, on LI.

Granted, I’m not sure Long Island is the best place for a nuclear plant. It’s crowded in a way you can’t appreciate unless you drive there.

But I remember it. There was nothing but liberal press then, and you would have thought from the news that every living things, birds and pets included hated Shoreham and wanted it out of existance.

My mom and I looked at each other and said, “They’ll be sorry”. The first thing I remember happening was the school districts in the area lost all their tax support, so everyone’s taxes jumped. It cost us millions to dismantle, and now everyone complains about oil prices.

[Parley Baer]

“Both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have consistently included nuclear power — along with coal, wind, solar and biofuels — in their promises to wean the country from dependence on foreign oil.”

Huh? I have never heard Obama speak of supporting nuclear power or coal.

[ASOC]

ROTFLMAO

Nuke-U-lar power to replace oil??? Where? Less than 3% of US electric power is derived from hydrocarbons, and most of that is like “Bunker C”, a small step up from tar.

Maybe they think we will be able to buy “Nukemobiles” that only have to be refueled every 100 years..... and are safe because they are made completely of lead.....
\
Oy!

[sefarkas]

The need for nuclear power plants arises from the growing economy, lack of new large generating station construction, interest in an environmentally benign way to generate electricity, and the resulting stress on the power-grid trying to deliver power from where it is made to where it is used. Ideally, large generators are located near areas with a large demand for electricity; Indian Point and the City of New York is an excellent example. As the commercial nuclear industry reached technical maturity in the last 15 years, its low operating cost and high reliability/availability has made the nuclear option attractive to utility executives.

Whatever form the heat generation takes, America needs to add many large generators to keep up with an economy that grows "another New Zealand" every year as well as addressing the need to replace the existing large generators, some of which have been in-service for over 50 years (think about getting spare parts).

[kellynla]

Thank you.

I get tired of responding to the inane posts on this forum.

Semper Fi,
Kelly