Washington Nuclear Waste Reservation Leaking

The Hanford (WA) Nuclear Waste Reservation is leaking waste and there is no easy solution to the problem. While the government assures people that the area is still safe, it is only going to become a worse problem over time should it continue to leak waste into local rivers. The Hanford facility is similar to the Sheridan Water system in that the government is dealing with aging infrastructure. In Sheridan, the city is dealing with water infrastructure that was built around 1950 and that is now creating water main breaks. In Hanford, there is a tank that was built in 1943 and 1944 that is storing 447,000 gallons of waste that is starting to leak waste. Given Sheridan's experience with aging infrastructure, Hanford is a problem that will only get worse over time even though the government is currently assuring everyone that there is no danger.

It is the federal government's responsibility to dispose of the waste. However, unless Congress passes a budget bill, there will be massive budget cuts under sequestration rules, meaning that a festering problem that already has no easy answers will only get worse unchecked. The government was supposed to build a new facility to handle the waste; however, it is billions of dollars over budget and way behind schedule and the Department of Energy is running out of available space to move waste to safer facilities.

Defenders of nuclear power argue that the alternative is coal; however, coal is a finite resource and not a long-term energy solution. The nuclear disaster in Japan as well as the Hanford mess undermines arguments for nuclear power as a solution to American energy needs. In the meantime, wind and solar energy have the potential for growth since they are infinite resources and they are much safer to convert to energy. The challenge for the government and solar and wind companies will be to make it cheaper to produce and thus make it a viable alternative.

A Moment with Mike -- Nuclear Power

There has been much discussion and serious debate in the last several years in Jefferson City concerning the future of our energy sources. Our coal plants are aging, wind energy is inadequate for a consistent supply and other sources of energy are extremely expensive to develop. The cost of permits for nuclear energy development and construction has been debated and many of you have heard of the expressed need from Ameren to start collecting money up front if they were to go ahead with plans to build another nuclear plant. Many are reluctant to do anything that may raise the rates of energy in Missouri and compromises have stalled. Missouri has some of the cheapest rates in the country at this time but we realize that with the growing demand for energy, we may have to start purchasing power from out of state sources and the prices are sure to rise.
Last week brought some welcome news for Missouri. Our state’s cooperative, municipal and investor-owned utilities have announced that they will collaborate with Westinghouse to apply for $450 million of Department of Energy (DOE) investment funding. If successful, these funds will support first-of-its-kind engineering, design certification and licensing for small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs.
Westinghouse, an international leader in nuclear technology and the development of these cutting edge SMRs, chose Missouri’s electric service providers and the Callaway Energy Center as their ideal partners in this endeavor. The engagement by citizens and businesses on behalf of a strong nuclear energy future in Missouri played a significant role in helping create the environment needed to bring this partnership to our state.
Nuclear power remains one of our state’s best options for keeping electric rates low in the long term and this project will keep nuclear power an option for the state. With an aging infrastructure presently supplying our energy and increasing federal regulation, we must continue to explore all viable options. This project could also bring important economic development benefits as a result of the development of the SMR technology, with job growth opportunities related to manufacturing, engineering, and training centers.
SMR technology has been around for decades, largely used to power nuclear submarines and naval vessels. Using this technology for electric generation is safe, and costs less to construct compared to traditional nuclear units.
This project is dependent on the support of the Department of Energy to supply investment funds, however, the collaborative efforts and the strong possibilities that arise are exciting and may open more doors relating to future energy sources. We must continue to expand and diversify our energy sources for the future if we are to remain competitive and have the advantage of reasonable rates for our citizens.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- Powering Missouri’s Future

Although the 2011 legislative session has come to an end, the issues and challenges facing Missouri’s lawmakers have not. One of the important issues left unresolved: how does Missouri plan on meeting its energy demands of the future? More specifically, are we going to produce enough energy within our state’s borders to power our homes and businesses or will Missouri follow the path of states like California and become beholden on others to meet its energy generation needs?

Although other areas of the country have experienced energy shortages, Missouri’s fleet of coal-fired power plants have provided a reliable and relatively affordable source of electricity. As the demand for electricity within our state continues to grow, most projections estimate that energy demand will outpace our supply capabilities by the year 2020. Because many of the coal plants currently meeting our energy needs were built in the 1970’s, costly upgrades will be required to meet the new environmental restrictions and regulations be imposed by the EPA.

For the last two years, the General Assembly has grappled with the future of nuclear power and whether or not we should be expanding additional nuclear production facilities in our state. When managed effectively, nuclear power can generate large amounts of energy in a clean, safe, and reliable manner. It can be a central component of a comprehensive energy plan that incorporates both fossil fuels and emerging renewable sources. The process to build nuclear generation is lengthy and complex. The upfront costs are enormous, but must be incurred in order to continue moving the process along.

While there is no easy solution to this issue, we can certainly all agree that reliable and affordable energy is essential to the economic viability of our state. Through reason and cooperation, I believe we can find the appropriate balance between protecting Missouri’s ratepayers from unnecessary costs, while continuing to advance a reasonable and responsible energy plan. Most importantly, I hope everyone will understand that it is time to stop debating and start advancing a comprehensive energy plan that supports a robust, dynamic and growing economy.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Brad Lager Supports Nuclear Power Bill Moving in Senate

In a positive step for energy and the economy in Missouri, the nuclear site permit bill, the legislation to keep nuclear power an option for Missouri, passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee April 5 as an amendment to Senate Bill 48, with a 7-2 vote. Chairman Brad Lager and Sens. Mike Kehoe, Jim Lembke, Michael Parson, Kurt Schaefer, Bill Stouffer and Timothy Green all voted in favor. 

"Thousands of people from across the state have made their voices heard and demonstrated to our lawmakers just how serious Missouri is about keeping nuclear power - and the jobs, economic investment and clean, affordable energy that come with it - an option for our state," says Barry Hart, CEO of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. "And today, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Lager and six other members of the Senate Commerce Committee - who we thank for their leadership - acted in response to that overwhelming public support when they voted in favor of this important legislation." 

A group that includes all of Missouri's electric utilities - investor-owned utilities, municipal systems and electric cooperatives - has been pushing for passage of this measure, which would keep alive the nuclear power option without committing to actually building a new plant. The utilities cite the need for a future source of baseload power and the limited options for new power plants to meet the anticipated increase in demand for electricity in supporting this measure. 

While this legislation has been delayed, the committee's action represents a fresh start toward moving it to a full vote on the Senate floor and eventual passage. "Without action from the Senate, nuclear power would no longer be an option in Missouri," Hart says. "This is about whether Missouri can continue to attract jobs through low rates and reliable power. We urge the Senate move quickly on this critical legislation." 

Radiation from Japan Disaster has Spread to Worth County, Rest of US

Measurable amounts of radiation from the Japan nuclear disaster have spread all the way to Massachusetts according to the Associated Press. That would mean that it has spread to Worth County and most of the rest of the country. The Associated Press quoted a Massachusetts public health official as saying that the radiation measured is not harmful and that it has a short life of only eight days. Fallout has also reached Canada.

Scientists say that the potential for a Japan-style disaster along the New Madrid Fault Line, the nearest to the area, is much less. The Japan nuclear plants survived the earthquake with minimal damage; it was the tsunami one hour later which knocked out the backup generators and which triggered the disaster. The US is conducting a major disaster drill along the fault lines this spring just in case.

Likelihood Increases for Nuclear Plant in Worth County, Region

FOX News reports that in the light of the Japan nuclear disaster, US officials are considering whether to locate new reactors in less populous areas. This means that this region, including Worth County, is a possible site down the road for a nuclear reactor. However, there are limitations for any possible nuclear plant in the area. Water would be a problem; there is not a lot of water in the region, a fact which has hindered growth in the region in the past several decades. Contamination of that water would be another issue along with the proximity of the area to the New Madrid Fault Line. There has been an increased interest in nuclear power as an alternative to dirtier coal and as a means of ending dependence on foreign oil.

Lawmakers, Ameren continue plans for second Callaway plant

Missouri lawmakers and Ameren Missouri have not given up their plans to pursue building a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County, despite recent problems at a Japanese nuclear power plant.

Last week, a Senate committee heard testimony from both supporters and opponents of the proposed second Callaway plant just two days prior to a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan, causing three reactor explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Even though these explosions have spotlighted potential problems with nuclear plants, Ameren, the state's main utility provider, and its legislative supporters have not changed their stance on legislation dealing with plans for another nuclear plant.

Ameren's Business Operations Supervisor, Rick Eastman, said that Japan's problems with its nuclear reactors have not impeded the company's promotion of legislation pushing for an early site permit needed to begin construction of a second plant in Callaway County.

Eastman also said Ameren has several safety procedures in place to deal to deal with emergency situations, including those caused by natural disasters such as an earthquake or tornado. These safety precautions include steel-enforced concrete walls, seismic sensors, backup generators as well as the ability to shut down the plant if anything "out of the ordinary" is noticed.

"If there is anything that might threaten the plant, the first step is to shut the reactor down," Eastman said

Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, the sponsor of the bill, agreed with Eastman and said Missouri's energy future cannot be influenced by international events and that the option for nuclear power has to be left open.

"We have to continue to talk about what sources of energy we are going to get for this state," Kehoe said. "The unfortunate incident in Japan has not changed the fact that coal is a very expensive source that is under attack from various groups from A to Z, so the way we produce power in this state is, unfortunately, not going to be changed by what happens globally, and the demand for power in this state is going to continue to be there and continue to be a need that we need to address."

So far the Fukushima plant in Japan has suffered from three explosions, which have severely damaged three reactors and caused a fire in a fourth. Following last Friday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the Fukushima plant's cooling systems failed, causing spent fuel rods to spike in temperature, cracking the casings around the rods. Once the casings around the rods became damaged, Japanese officials believe that the rods, after coming into contact with the steam released hydrogen gas, which was then vented out of the reactors and caused the explosions.

Eastman, said that the utility provider is waiting for the legislation to make its way through the General Assembly so the company can keep the option of building another plant open. If the proposed legislation passes, Ameren would be allowed to apply for an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well as charge its ratepayers an additional two dollars for up to 20 years to pay for the construction of the new nuclear facility.

"No decision to build a second plant has been made, the whole legislation regarding the site permit is simply to keep the option open as we continue to look at what's the best thing to do for Missouri's energy future," Eastman said. "If we were to push forward with approved site permit legislation and Ameren Missouri were to file for an application [to build a plant], part of what we would use the three year NRC review time for is to look at all of the various technologies."

Kehoe said that despite general safety concerns, due to strict safety standards in the country, any nuclear plants that Ameren would build would be sufficiently safer then the Fukushima plant in Japan, which was built in 1967.

"It would be irresponsible for someone to say there are no safety concerns," Kehoe said. "There are always safety concerns when you build any kind of project...I think the facilities that we would go forward with would be engineered through the early site permit process to withstand any possible acts of nature that we could have."

The Fukushima Unit 1 reactor follows the Genereal Electric Mark 1 reactor design, making it a boiling water reactor meaning that the coolant water for spent fuel rods is also used for the steam turbine system, causing a high probability of radioactive contamination of the water. According to a report released by the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, a nuclear energy information and watchdog group, there are 23 similar reactors in the United States, four of which are located in Illinois. Unlike these reactors, Ameren's current Callaway plant is a pressurized water reactor, which separates the coolant water from the steam turbine system, reducing the risk of radioactive contamination.

At the committee hearing last Friday, Ameren's CEO, Warren Baxter promoted the benefits of a potential second Callaway plant in front of the Senate committee.

"[A site permit] gives us the opportunity to access federal incentives, which can save our customers money," Baxter said at the hearing. "Certainly there is no doubt that a nuclear plant could present a great economic development opportunity by creating thousand of clean energy jobs and hundreds, if not more, permanent jobs in the future."