Among the many arguments that they are now making is that nuclear power plants are notorious for exceeding their time tables and budgets. In the case of the two existing units on Southern’s Vogtle site, they took about 15 years to build and came in $8 billion over budget. The two additional units, which are to be operated by Southern’s subsidiary George Power, secured loan guarantees worth $8.3 billion — concerning to those who have borne witness to prior costs over-runs.
Then, naturally, there are worries over whether the same thing that happened at Japan’s Fukushima plant could occur here: Back up cooling systems failed, causing the spent fuel rods to become exposed and the reactor’s core to suffer a meltdown. Deadly radiation then escaped.
To that end, the storage of radioactive waste still obscures nuclear energy’s path. Here, the Obama administration is undermining its own cause having killed off Yucca Mountain in Nevada where the spent fuel was to be permanently stored. The fuel rods are now warehoused “temporarily” onsite in above ground, concrete-encased containers.
“The nuclear disaster in Japan should have put the brakes on new plants in the United States,” says Lou Zeller, with the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. “But an aggressive industry and a compliant NRC seem to have a lead foot, ignoring the danger signs.” NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko sided with the green groups in the 4 to 1 decision.
As for the two units to be built on the Vogtle site, they are estimated to cost $14 billion. Of that, $6 billion would fall on the utility. The rest would come from the loan guarantees...Please continue reading at:
