Opposition to Nuclear Power (published in State Newspaper)
Written by Dr. James R. Hebert
Monday, 22 December 2008 21:46
Dear Editor:
As a well-published cancer epidemiologist (over 230 articles in peer-reviewed journals), public health professional, and concerned citizen who has followed the nuclear energy debate for the past 30 years I am strongly opposed to proposed nuclear power plant construction near Columbia.
From a health perspective, there is plenty of evidence that ionizing radiation is extremely deleterious to human health in the moderate to long term. Cancers in adults have an average latency period of around 20-30 years; in children, this period of cancer development can be much shorter. There is no way to guarantee containment of the very carcinogenic materials associated with nuclear power over a moderate period of time (i.e., decades). So, it is very likely that rates of cancers and birth defects (which can appear relatively quickly) will increase if this very poorly thought out plan were put into effect.
From an economic perspective, irrespective of the huge costs that may be incurred when health risks are increased, this plan is equally absurd. Alternative forms of energy will be less expensive (and much less toxic), even in the short term. They will become much cheaper with serious investments in research and development that are promised by the new administration. Reverse (or net) metering will allow inventive individuals to generate electricity for the grid, thus accelerating innovation and reducing costs to an even greater extent. Amortizing costs will make alternatives, such as wind and solar, much less expensive in the moderate to long term; and especially when costs of waste disposal (which appear simply to be discounted to zero by passing them on to future generations) are taken into account.
Though the press was notably absent, the S.C. Public Service Commission opened the floor for more public comment shortly after 4:30 this afternoon. Council for SCE&G renewed its "continuing objection" to what it claimed is a violation of the corporation's right to due process.
For applications that have been received by the NRC, you may select a site name to view the NRC's website for the specific COL application. Websites for the remainder of the applications will be created when they are received.
Construction is under way on a new style disposal unit for salt waste materials at the U.S. Department of Energy's Saltstone Facility at the Savannah River Site. Go to Aiken Standard
North Anna Six Update: Atlanta Activists on Probation for Anti-Nuclear Protesting in Virginia
Written by Matthew Cardinale, News Editor, The Atlanta Progressive News
Friday, 07 November 2008 01:00
(APN) NORTH ANNA, VIRGINIA – Two Atlanta anti-nuclear activists were among six people arrested at a sit-in at the Visitor’s Center of the North Anna nuclear power plant in Louisa, Virginia, on August 08, 2008. Read article .
CONTACT: Elliott Negin, Union of Concerned Scientists, 202-331-5439
Tom Clements, Friends of the Earth, 803-834-3084
NUCLEAR FUEL TEST FAILURE SHOULD TRIGGER SUSPENSION OF WEAPON-GRADE PLUTONIUM FUEL USE, GROUPS SAY
HAZARDOUS FUEL BEHAVIOR ANOTHER SETBACK FOR TROUBLED ENERGY DEPARTMENT PROGRAM, HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR OTHER REACTORS
WASHINGTON (August 4, 2008) -- Citing the recent failure of an experimental plutonium fuel assembly test at a South Carolina nuclear plant, two watchdog groups today called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to suspend a risky, multibillion dollar program that would use 37 tons of surplus nuclear weapons plutonium for U.S. nuclear reactor fuel.
Construction is under way on a new style disposal unit for salt waste materials at the U.S. Department of Energy's Saltstone Facility at the Savannah River Site. Go to 
Post Office Box 7933