Info meeting on nuclear power plant set Tuesday

Nuclear power has been produced and used safely for years. What is your complaint? Don't want lower energy bills? What is your complaint about the NASCAR track?

I for one am glad that they are starting to build here. For one, it will bring more jobs to the area, more money to the town, and more things to do, instead of driving to Boise.

One issue that is likely to be overlooked is the amount of light trespass that this power plant will produce. It's especially bad because the proposed site is less than five miles from Idaho's only dark-sky public observatory at Bruneau Dunes state park. I estimate that the effect on the observatory's skies will be comparable to relocating it into the center of a small city--in other words, kiss the dark skies and spectacular views of the heavens (which draw visitors to the observatory from all over the country) goodbye.

Furthermore, do we want to raise Idaho's profile as a potential target for terrorism? And nuclear power plants use enormous amounts of one of our most precious (and increasingly vanishing) natural resources: water (despite AEH's claim of a new "dry" technology for their plant, about which specifics have been sketchy at best. Keep in mind that this same company was boasting on its website last year about their research on a technology to generate power from lightning(!), which a little bit of physics knowledge will tell you is ridiculous). AEH is not a trustworthy company (why else would they brag about their plans, claiming it was a done deal before they even applied for the permit with the AEC?), don't let them use Idaho to generate power to be sold out of state for big profits, leaving us with light polluted skies, a tempting target for terrorism, depleted water, and yet more nuclear waste to dispose of at taxpayer's expense.

Dear Elmore County families and neighbors,

I just found out about this meeting. Here is my handout for tonight, without the convinient web references, since they are banned on this news site. My phone is posted below and I'd be happy to provide them...Peter

Are you ready to risk a nuclear meltdown to heat Hollywood hot tubs?

Are you ready to be stuck with deadly nuclear waste for 240,000 years?

Elmore County is now being targeted for a merchant nuclear power plant, by Virginia businessman, Don Gillispie. A "merchant" nuclear power plant has no obligation to sell its power to Idaho, unless we outbid California. California pays about 18 cents per kilowatt, about three times the present Idaho rate. California and Oregon ban these potential disasters of nuclear power from their neighborhoods, but we will have to outbid them to use any of Gillipie's power, if his "pink sheet" stock pyramid scheme isn't just a scam.

Gillispie, claims "A Chernobyl style meltdown is not possible in Western reactors. Even if it were - and it would take a redesign of the plant -the containment vessel would hold all radioactivity." (Times-News April 30)

I have shown Gillispie the 2006 Department Of Energy study on containment flaws that could lead to "catastrophic failure." What part of "catastrophic failure" does he not understand? Gillispie claims our containment is vigorously tested for earthquakes, but the DOE actually admits, "Seismic loadings coupled with severe accident loads have not been investigated in any detail."

Gillispie complained, in the Twin Falls paper, "Ironically, one of the chief local opponents of nuclear power is a podiatrist who has irradiated more people than any American nuclear plant." I do use x-rays and thus I am NOT "anti-nuclear." Gillispie seems to keep forgetting doctors don't x-ray pregnant women, unless it's a life or death decision needed, because of the danger of radiation exposure, especially to the fetus. Unlike the "catastrophic failure" potential of a meltdown or terrorist strike, an x-ray of a broken foot will NOT force evacuations of Idaho, nor cause impoundments of crops. Neither will wind power.

Wind power can double Idaho's present electric use says the DOE

It was great to see the Department of Energy detail how wind power could provide 20% of the nation's power needs by 2030, at about 7.5 cents per kilowatt.

Nuclear power costs about 8-11 cents per kilowatt, according to the Keystone report, authored by the French Areva Company, that designed the very reactor Gillispie proposes. Gillispie, however, falsely promises he will sell Idaho his power at 3 cents per kilowatt, but refuses to put that impossible promise in writing in a contract with Idaho Power.

At the Twin Falls energy forum May 15, the DOE speaker Kurt Myers noted Idaho's wind power contribution could be a nameplate base of 5,594 Megawatts, and added, "Idaho could contribute more." Kurt agreed that was more than double Idaho's present electric consumption, and would provide millions of dollars of jobs and tax revenue! Please see our website for the Stanford report proving connecting wind farms debunks the catch phrase "the wind doesn't blow all the time." This study proves that wind can provide a reliable steady baseload, cheaper than dirty coal or risky nuclear power.

Modern nuclear power has serious technical problems.

The Ohio Davis-Besse nuclear plant, in 2002, accidentally discovered an unforeseen acid leak that ate through the steel reactor containment, leaving only 3/8ths of an inch of steel. Instead of shutting down, the nuclear engineer lied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission so they could continue to make money!! This reveals that modern nuclear plants can have hidden flaws, and reveals that human error and direct corruption that makes Gillispie's claims of total safety an outright lie. See our website for details.

Wind, solar, and geothermal are best for National Security & Defense

Nuclear power clusters our energy supply as a deadly target for terrorists, including disgruntled employees. According to Homeland Security officials (see website for references) you don't need an airplane crash to cause a nuclear disaster. "I think the important thing to keep in mind is the adversaries don't stand still when technologies are being developed," said Mike Sparks, director of the DOE Office of Technology. "The adversary has full use of the technology in advance to being made. And if we stand still and don't take the initiative to stay a step ahead on the technology, I think we're setting ourselves up for a disaster sometime down in the future." Gillispie claims to innocent citizens that a disaster is impossible.

Nuclear power is a gamble that bets your family farm everyday. Sincerely, Dr. Peter Rickards DPM

Please ask any questions via our website or call 208-734-3338

Dr Peter

You presented some interesting and what appears to be valid info. Thank you. However, you may now post links on this website (see the main page under the Banter Box rules). Could you please post referenced website.

I am curious why we (esp Idaho Power) are not pursuing more wind & solar in Idaho and why Idaho does not provide more of an incentive (tax breaks) for the average consumer. You may not know the answer to these, but I am also interested in learning more about nuclear power and would appreciate a link to your website. Thanks.

You cannot tell me that some of you REALLY believe that this power is going to help our (the people who live in Mtn. Home that is) with our rising energy costs. The energy produced at this proposed (I say proposed but P & Z has probably already said okay like they do with everything else) plant will be sold to the state that is willing to pay the most and that is not Idaho. We will have to battle other states for the power that will be produced there BUT...they will use all of OUR water and pollute. They will probably bring in their own folks to work there and run the place since education is a very limited thing in our area. So, in short, they can abuse Elmore County and dry us up (since these things use a disgusting amount of water) and make us number 1 on the list for a terrorist attack (are we not already in the top 10 for this without this plant?). It will create some jobs once it opens and many jobs while it is being built but is it worth what it is going to cost us? It is like selling yourself to the devil. It is not "safe" power as stated. There have been many nuclear accidents here and abroad---so it is NOT "safe" power. We should do more with wind and the sun as it is better for the environment and uses what we have...lots of sun and lots of wind.

They propose to put this plant too close to the Snake River as well. Do not think for a minute that will not forever change the Snake River. It forever changed Lake Michigan and not for the better. Be careful what you people wish for because once it is here we will not be able to change things. Het on the net and do your research. This is NOT safe power.

You can rent solar panels from several corporations for a "small" fee. They have just started this. They are doing it in CA. They will install them and rent them to you. That is way better than nuclear! Do not say yes to this so fast. The only people that will profit are the owners of it---not us as consumers or residents of this county. Wise up.

Isn't California presently buying electricity produced in Idaho?

"In Idaho's Snake River Valley, where potato farmers depend on electric pumps to water their crops, the state's largest power company hopes to stand tradition on its head and profit by selling farmers less, not more, electricity. "

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1002/p02s01-wogi.html

"Besides their economic connection, the Western states are connected by the infrastructure of the Western Power Grid, which distributes power to 11 states and two Canadian provinces. High prices in one part of the West ultimately translate into higher prices throughout the region. The arrangement that the Pacific Northwest has generally had with California is that, in the summer when demand is high in California but low in the other states, California imports electricity produced by the 30 federal dams in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and western Montana. In winter, when loads are higher in the Northwest, California sends power up to the region. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal agency, based in Portland, markets about 50 percent of this power. (Others include the Western Area Power Administration.)"

http://www.corp-research.org/archives/may01.htm

Sooooo,. more power into this thing called the Western Power Grid is a good thing right?

I think that is what thay call in Econ 101 Supply & Demand.