Peter Bradford, Former Commissioner with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to Appear before S.C. Public Service Commission on May 7, 9:00 a.m., In Duke Nuclear Reactor Docket

*** PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND SUPPORT BRADFORD's TESTIMONY ***

On March 3, 2008, Friends of the Earth (FOE) intervened with the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) against a request by Duke Energy for approval of "preconstruction costs" to build two new nuclear reactors in Cherokee County, 10miles east of Gaffney. The reactors are the Westinghouse APl 000 design and only exist on paper. FOE believes that the PSC should require Duke to invest in efficiency, conservation and renewable as the least-cost options and not new reactors.

Currently, FOE is in a battle with Duke to obtain information about the cost of the reactors. Duke is staunchly refusing to release any cost information to the public and FOE strongly believes that the public has the full right to know the costs which will be faced. In any event, if the PSC allows "preconstruction costs," Duke ratepayer will be stuck with the bill even if the reactors are never built. Duke is requesting approval for $230 million of preconstruction costs in South Carolina and North Carolina.

As an expert witness, FOE has enlisted Peter Bradford, a former commissioner with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1977-1982), former chair of the Maine PSC (1982-1987) and former chair of the New York PSC (1987-1995).  Mr. Bradford has filed expert testimony in the case and will give oral testimony on May 7, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the PSC (101 Executive Center Dr., Suite 100-by 1-20 at Bush River Road).

The public is encouraged to attend on May 7 and lend support to Mr. Bradford as he presents testimony and is cross-examined by Duke lawyers and by Bob Guild, lawyer for FOE.

For documents filed in the "preconstruction cost" docket (2007-440-E), see the PSC website at: http://dms.psc.sc.gov/dockets/dockets.cfc?Method=DocketDetail&DocketID=102593

For directions to the PSC, see: http://www.psc.sc.gov/aboutloffices.asp

For map with the location of the planned reactors (site where The Abyss movie was filmed) in the 1980s. Duke spent $550 million at this site for planned reactors, which were later abandoned, with the rate payer getting stuck with the bill: http://www.sciway.net/movies/sc-movie-abyss.html

For more Information, contact Tom Clements with Friends of the Earth, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 803-834-3084

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