Energy efficiency can yield 90 times more jobs than replacing one nuke

Solar PV panel production in Ohio alone enough to replace Davis-Besse's electrical output

Environmental coalition expert witness Al Compaan and solar PV panelIn an article entitled "Ohio ranked 2nd in U.S. in solar-panel output," the Toledo Blade has reported that by next year, Ohio manufacturers will be churning out 550 Megawatts-electric (MW-e) of solar photovoltaic panels. Beyond Nuclear, along with Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, Don't Waste Michigan, and the Green Party of Ohio, have challenged the 20 year license extension sought by the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant, contending that solar PV alone could displace the atomic reactor's electrical output of 908 MW by 2017, the year its original 40 year operating license expires. Emeritus professor of physics at the University of Toledo Al Compaan (pictured at left) -- the environmental coalition's expert witness in the proceeding -- testified earlier this year to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Atomic Safety (sic) and Licensing Board (ASLB) that simply covering FirstEnergy's Davis-Besse site, its Norton Compressed Air Energy Storage site, as well as the commercial rooftops in several northern Ohio cities, would be enough solar PV panels to entirely replace Davis-Besse. As the article indicates, Ohio's own production levels alone could readily meet that challenge.

Riverkeeper to NYC Mayor Bloomberg: replace Indian Point with renewables and efficiency

In an open letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has taken a position that the Big Apple is simply stuck with the risky Indian Point nuclear power plant, Hudson Riverkeeper has called on him to join New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in pushing for the twin reactors' shut down at the expiration of their 40 year licenses. Riverkeeper writes:

"...Contrary to Mayor Bloomberg’s warnings, we can transition to a sustainable energy future, without Indian Point and without dooming ourselves to rely on dirty sources of replacement power. Instead, we can increase energy efficiency, establish renewables and improve the state’s transmission grid.

Over 5,000 Megawatts (MW) are due to come online by 2015 from renewable energy sources alone. In addition, the potential for renewable power generation within New York City is virtually untapped. Researchers at CUNY predict that putting solar collection panels on two thirds of NYC’s rooftops could generate enough power to replace two Indian Points. Thankfully, we only need to replace one.

Combine these safe, sane renewable energy projects with new transmission capacity, such as the 660 MW cross-Hudson transmission line, and then add in easily-attainable energy efficiency savings of 2% per year [New York City's peak power use actually declined last summer – one of the hottest on record -- due to proactive energy conservation policies], and Indian Point’s 2,000 MW won’t be missed..."

Riverkeeper's letter comes in response to a July 7th New York Times article reporting Mayor Bloomberg's position.

Even France to prioritize renewable over nuclear energy

French ecology minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, has announced plans for France to step up its investments in renewable energy, throwing into doubt future nuclear power expansion in the country. France gets 80% of its electricity from its 58 reactors. "Our objective is to rebalance the energy mix in favour of renewables,” Kosciusko-Morizet told the Financial Times.  Regarding the future of nuclear, she told the FT: "We are investing in [nuclear] safety, not in growth objectives as we are doing in renewables." France is launching a bid for five new offshore wind farms.