The Nuclear Retreat
We coined the term, "Nuclear Retreat" here at Beyond Nuclear to counter the nuclear industry's preposterous "nuclear renaissance" propaganda campaign. You've probably seen "Nuclear Retreat" picked up elsewhere and no wonder - the alleged nuclear revival so far looks more like a lot of running away. On this page we will keep tabs on every latest nuclear retreat as more and more proposed new nuclear programs are canceled.
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An Illinois state lawmaker has shelved plans to push for an end to Illinois’ moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction given Japan’s nuclear catastrophe. State Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch) introduced legislation in January that would have lifted the state’s 24-year ban on nuclear power plant construction but said it no longer is on her legislative front burner.
Yet another halt to U.S. nuclear expansion plans was announced last week as the twin new reactor projects at the South Texas Nuclear Project were put on hold. The two reactors were due to start construction in 2012. But this now looks doubtful. Ironically, embattled Japense utility, Tepco, was to be an investor in the project along with NRG Energy, the majority owner, which was even looking for loans from the Japanese government.
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative has pulled out of plans to share in the construction of a third reactor at the current North Anna site in Louisa, Virginia. According to news reports, leadership at Old Dominion felt that "participating in this proposed nuclear project does not fit with our long-term plans." Old Dominion owns an 11.6 percent interest in, and shares the power generated by, North Anna's existing Units 1 and 2. This is not the first bump in the road for Dominion Power. It has already balked at the capital costs, predicting these would slow progress on the project. And the company has already rejected one design from GE Hitachi - a boiling water reactor - switching to a pressurized water reactor design by Mitsubishi last May.
March 27, 2011