The Last Thing Austin Needs is More Nuclear Plants!
- Nuclear power remains expensive and dangerous, and by diverting funds away from existing clean energy solutions, actually hampers our ability to act to curb global warming
- NRG Energy, Inc. has filed the first application in the nation in 29 years and proposes to build two additional nuclear plants in Matagorda County,Texas, at the South Texas (Nuclear) Project site where there are two existing reactors. They propose to build two 1375 MW Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs) built by Hitachi and Westinghouse at the existing site of the two South Texas Nuclear plants near Bay City Texas.
- Since this is the first of several proposed nuclear plants to have filed for a permit in three decades, it is critical to mount a strong, well-organized campaign to beat this application. It is also important to mount a series of legal challenges to the NRC's Combined Operating License (COL) process. This application is for two of seven plants that are being proposed in Texas. If we win here, delay the permit, or tie up the permitting process in a series of legal challenges, the utility and financial communities will have to think hard about proposing additional plants anywhere in the country. Donations made at this web site will help!
- NRG has never built a nuclear plant before, and has only gained any experience with nuclear plants recently when they took over management at the South Texas Project. The reactor type (ABWR) that NRG proposes to build has never been built in the U.S, and has a poor performance record in Japan. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the ABWR design before the 911 attack on the World Trade Center. For this reason, the design is exempted from requirements to harden the plant to protect against aircraft accidents, and we will weigh in to change this.
NRG has only run a nuke since becoming involved with the ST(N)P in 2006. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Now they want to build two reactors with a design that has never been built in the United States, and has had a poor record so far in Japan. Their application is not complete, but despite huge deficiencies and numerous requests for design variances is being fast-tracked through the permitting process, with huge subsidies as a major incentive for the company.
Austin previously tried to sell it's share of the existing nukes, but we still own 16%. These plants ran six times over budget, and were eight years
late coming online. There were endless years of litigation, shoddy construction and mismanagement.
We can't afford to make the same mistake again. With ten years, or less, to make serious reductions in global warming emissions, sinking money into nuclear plants diverts funding we need right now for clean, affordable, sustainable solutions to our energy needs. Studies show that Texas can meet its needs with energy efficiency, renewable solar and wind power and by capturing waste heat energy from our buildings.
Call or write to Mayor Wynn and the Austin City Council today
Tell them in your own words why you think the nuclear plants are a disastrous idea for Austin, and the path that you would like to see for our energy future.
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