Environmental Group Files Petition Against New Nuke Plant
February 11, 2009
By Fred Hiers
DUNNELLON -- The Ecology Party of Florida has joined the Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) in an attempt to stop the construction of two proposed nuclear reactors in Levy County. The two environmental groups this week filed a joint petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In a press release, the two groups say there is no adequate plan to dispose of the nuclear plant's radioactive waste and the plan should be halted. The newly formed Ecology Party of Florida says the plant will create problems when it takes salt water and uses it to cool its reactors because the process will evaporate off the water' salt and expose area vegetation to higher than normal salt concentrations.
NIRS is an information and networking group opposed to the use of nuclear power and advocates alternatives fuels instead. The Ecology Party of Florida, which formed last year, is based in Ft. Lauderdale and has 125 members.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission allows for petitioners opposed to the plant to file their complaints with the Commission. The Commission then reviews the complaint and is required to formally address the concerns.
The two proposed reactors are expected to cost $17 billion and supply energy for nearly 1.4 million customers. The two reactors are scheduled to be on-line by 2017.
"There are many green energy alternatives to nuclear power," said NIRS spokeswoman Mary Olson. "Solar and wind energy are available now, and ultimately much more affordable than nuclear. Every dollar spent on these new reactors is not available for developing authentically safe, clean, renewable energy".