( By Mark Stewart ) [Approx. Read Time: 3 minutes]
Florida state authorities, including the Governor, approved an important element of Progress Energy’s proposal to build two new nuclear power plants (NPP) in Levy County, FL. You can read the Jacksonville Observer’s account here. Florida officials approved the plants despite some protesters using some of the same, tired, and inaccurate arguments against the world’s only reliable carbon-free baseload electricity generation method. FL Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda was sure to make her voice heard with the following:
“I’m concerned about the cost with regard to this nuclear power plant, I’m concerned about the time that it’s going to take to build this nuclear power plant, I’m concerned about the number of jobs, I’m concerned about the danger and I’m concerned about the legacy that we leave our children and our children’s children.”
As detailed in a previous post, NPP are a GREAT investment, if you are able to think long-term. NPP do take time to build but they are the only technology available NOW that can provide the CO2 free power on a large scale that the US (and the rest of the world) needs. I’m not sure what Rep. Vasilinda means when she says she is concerned about jobs but the lasting positive economic impact a NPP has on the surrounding community has been well documented. Finally, just for good measure, Rep. Vasilinda throws in a vague boogeyman statement about “danger” that our children and our children’s children will face. As proven year after year by OSHA statistics, the nuclear industry is one of the safest major industries in the U.S.
Not to be outdone, Lake Worth City Commissioner Cara Jennings offered the following:
“Scientific research has clearly shown that the entire nuclear process - from minor to transportation, process, use and long-term storage - has negative consequences on public health,” Jennings said. “Even when running ‘safely,’ nuclear power plants release radiation. Radiation is odor-less, tasteless, invisible and deadly even in low doses.”
Not to let facts get in the way of an argument, but you are exposed to 400 times more radiation while getting a full set of dental X-rays than if you lived outside a nuclear power plant for one year. Commissioner Jennings also offered the following regarding Progress’s plan to replace existing coal plants with the new NPP
“Is this really the best we have to offer the people of our state?” she asked. “Go ahead Floridians, take your pick: lung cancer and air pollution from coal or cancer for your kids and a waste product so deadly we have nowhere to put it.”
All nuclear waste is currently stored safely at the facility where it is generated. You can read more about the safety of spent nuclear fuel storage here. While this isn’t a long term solution, it is safe and a long term solution does exist in the form of reprocessing technology being used NOW in France.
As NEI’s Richard Myers said this week “You clearly cannot have a credible program to control carbon emissions without expanded nuclear power.”
Rep. Vasilinda is concerned about her constituents being able to get long-term jobs? We should write her a letter and send her a fact sheet or two. I’m on it.
Thanks for the great article, Mark.
Carrington
Since these kinds of ignorant comments are predictable, did Progress Energy or anyone else in the nuclear arena prepare a “Fact sheet” to all the political entities for their review prior to the discussion and vote? And if not, why isn’t that part of the initial strategy at winning the “war of persuasion”? Schedule a “Learn the Facts about Atomic Energy” day for elected representatives and commissioners, followed by a tour of a working nuclear plant. Few things dispel myths faster than hands-on experience with that which is unknown (IMHO).