Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore was asked no hard questions
Print- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
8 Comments
- •
Favorite- •
-
Report error
-
Thank you for your submission.Error report or correction
- Close
-
- •
A group of concerned citizens has asked me to present their position and concerns about the proposed Exelon nuclear facility planned for Victoria County.
The Victoria Economic Development Committee planned a closed meeting, invitation only, to have Patrick Moore speak on the proposed nuclear facility planned for Victoria County.
The “chosen” invitees will undoubtedly hear from Moore about the wonderful world of nuclear energy. Moore was aligned with Greenpeace for years and fought nuclear power but now extols its advantages. Since this was a “closed meeting,” likely there was no hard questions.
This is but yet another example of being spoon fed the opinions of the few as fact.
Certain vested interests in Victoria County have been openly supporting the nuclear project. They loudly proclaim the economic windfall it will bring to the county without considering the negative impact that will surely follow.
Moore appears to be credentialed. He holds himself out as a founder of Greenpeace, a matter of some dispute. His opinions have been challenged both from a technical as well as practical application. The meeting was a “closed meeting,” and the address was scripted. He is retained by the nuclear industry as a spokesman and as such does not address the issues important to a community that will be affected by such a facility.
There are many questions that have yet to be asked. How will the infrastructure of the county be affected? What will be required in the way of schools, fire protection, police protection and other basic services? Will tax abatements be given? Is the science and design of this particular facility sound? How will the project affect the water supply for municipal use, recreation as well as fishing and agriculture? Will the project produce jobs, or will the various subcontractors import the needed labor; and which is cheaper? What will be done with the radioactive waste? There has not been a nuclear facility built in the United States in about 30 years, and much of the design, engineering and fabrication will be foreign manufactured without the quality control of domestic labor, design and manufacture. A nuclear facility poses a security risk to the community. It is well established that terrorists would target such facilities and the City of Victoria is directly down wind from this proposed facility.
Experience in other areas, such as the South Texas Nuclear Project in Matagorda, has shown that the local labor force, tax and economy does not benefit to the extent promised because most of the labor is imported, and, when the project is completed, a majority of the labor force leaves the community, and the tax base is dramatically affected.
All of these and many more questions need to be asked and answered before the citizens of Victoria blindly accept what they are told by economic vested interests.
These people do not speak for the majority of the citizens of Victoria County, and they should not represent that they do.
There needs to be frank and open discussions, regarding both the environmental and economic impact on the community. Concerned citizens should be given the opportunity to participate in the discussions. Victoria County is moving at a record pace.
Let’s have open and honest discussion before we accept a project that will affect not only our lives, but the lives of our children’s children and their children.
In the immediate future there will be public forums announced where all citizens of Victoria County will be invited to participate and ask questions. This forum will not be a “closed meeting,” and representatives of both Exelon as well as local supporters will be invited to debate these issues. If Mr. Moore wishes to attend, he will be invited.
If you have additional questions about Patrick Moore, or Exelon, or nuclear power in general, contact one of the following:
Allison Fisher, public citizen, 202-454-5176; cell, 704-604-3750. Peter Bradford, former director for the NRC, 802-236-4072; Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lone Star Sierra Club, 512-447-1729; Arjun Makhijair, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, 301-270-5500; Paul Gunther, NIRS, 301-523-0201; Jim Riccio, Greenpeace, 202-319-2487; Karen Hadden, Seed Coalition, 512-797-8481; and Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen, 512-477-1155.
Sandra L. McKenzie is an attorney with the McKenzie Law Firm of Victoria.
-
Print
- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
8 Comments
- •
- Favorite
- •
-
Report error
-
Thank you for your submission.Error report or correction
- Close
-
- •
Comments
I wasn't alive in the late 40's-- but--I remember that in the future, power would be free--if it was produced by nuclear means. I guess not though. Hey, and where is my flying car darn-it!
May 11, 2008 at 2:21 p.m.I think everyone needs to do a little more reading on the topic of "recycling spent nuclear fuel". Please go here
http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/factSh...
Please note the mission and goals are for future development of advanced technologies.
Fifty years ago we were told scientists would find a solution to the problem of dealing with highly radioactive materials that remain lethal for thousands of years and so far the scientists have not solved that problem.
I also found this quite interesting. From a column by AGI/AIPG Geoscience & Public Policy Intern Timothy J. Donahue reprinted from the November 2006 issue of The Professional Geologist, a publication of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
"According to the Energy Information Administration, even if several new nuclear power plants are built and all 103 of the older plants continue to operate, nuclear energy will only represent 15% of U.S. sources for electricity generation in 2030 because while the nuclear power supply will increase a small amount, the demand for energy will grow even faster. Thus although there is renewed interest in expanding nuclear power capacity in the U.S., the incentives in EPACT 2005 and the promises of GNEP are perhaps not enough to overcome a decrease in total nuclear capacity with a concomitant increase in fossil-fuel capacity. Currently, coalfired plants and natural gas-fired plants represent 50% and 20%, respectively of U.S. electricity generation and these percentages are expected to increase in the future. More drastic policy changes and probably significant federal investment may be needed to significantly boost U.S. nuclear power capacity."
This tells me we are not reducing the use of fossil fuels, only increasing the risk of future contamination by nuclear waste.
And read this..
http://www.counterpunch.org/alvarez05...
There are cheaper, cleaner, alternative energy sources to be developed and that's what we should be focusing on.
Finally, since I'm tired of doing this research on my Sunday off, I think this has more to do with people seeing jobs for the Victoria area and to hell with whatever consequences may befall us. I think we owe it to our future generations to think this through and seek other avenues for energy and jobs.
May 11, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.Number one, I think that many of the questions have been asked. Maybe you haven't bothered to look for the answers.
Number two, if you knew about the "closed meeting" (why the quotes?) why didn't you simply ask to attend. Despite being member supported, VEDC's meetings are not a secret and are open to the public.
Number three, it's easier to present reasoned arguments if you try not to panic.
May 10, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.I recently responded to the excitement in Victoria about the nuclear power plant coming to town. Why not be truly innovative and try a solar power plant? Victoria has so much unused land around the County - how about using some of the thousands of acres of land which make up some of the huge surrounding ranches? Why not try this alternative? It's clean and safe for all, and by the way, where are you planning on storing your nuclear waste which will be around for thousands of years? That should be an interesting topic worthy of discussion since nobody wants to "own up" when this becomes a reality.
May 9, 2008 at 11:37 p.m.Wind farms are becoming a new cash crop for farmers in the Midwest who are leasing their land to windmill development or selling the power from windmills themselves. At the present time Southern California Edison has begun construction on the largest wind transmission project in the U.S. Food crops are being planted right up to the back of the large turbines and cattle can also graze without harm.
Wind is modern energy. The power of knowledge and education is crucial! Why was Victoria selected for this nuclear project? Ask questions and inform yourselves! If you don't ask questions it sounds like a done deal for you all and for the rest of us who live 100+ miles away. SAD.
Read THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, "Mainstreaming Alternative Energy", Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Special Advertising Section. Inform yourselves. Wind is cleaner energy and you have the resources in Victoria. WOW!