Exelon delays plans
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Exelon Nuclear won't decide whether to build a Victoria County plant for at least three years - and possibly as many 20.
The company bought itself a two-decade window to weigh its options by announcing Tuesday it will seek an early site permit instead of a construction and operating license.
Exelon planned to decide by early next year whether to build locally. Unforeseen U.S. economic woes, unpredictable energy prices and a lack of ample federal loan guarantees threw a reactor-sized wrench into those plans, Exelon spokespeople said.
The decision to file the early site permit, though, gives nuclear supporters hope. The move shows Exelon hasn't given up wholly on building locally, they say.
"The fact they're willing to move forward with this early site permit means they still have strong confidence in Victoria and in this site," said Dale Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp. "I view that as very positive."
Even so, Fowler and Mayor Will Armstrong said the move disappoints. The economic boom of breaking ground on hundreds of new jobs and homegrown energy is delayed for years.
An early site permit, if granted, gives a federal stamp of approval to the proposed Victoria County location. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will evaluate factors such as site safety, environmental impact and emergency planning.
"Once they get the early site permit, then they could apply for a license to build and operate a nuclear power plant," said Victor Dricks, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman.
The early site permit, and construction and operating license, each require about three years of federal study. If Exelon one day chooses to build the plant, some data from the early site permit can be used toward the construction and operating license.
"It could expedite that second licensing process," Dricks said.
Exelon spokespeople said Tuesday's announcement does not reflect disinterest in this region.
"Victoria is a great site for a nuclear power plant," said Bill Harris, Exelon's Victoria-based spokesman. "Economically speaking, now's not the time."
Craig Nesbit, another spokesman, added, "We are not walking away from Victoria. We are simply extending the decision time, giving ourselves more time to let things settle out a bit."
The company renewed recently its water reservation agreement with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.
Exelon extended its agreement - a reservation of 75,000-acre-feet of water per year - for another year, said Bill West, the river authority's general manager. The one-year agreement costs Exelon $1.1 million.
Exelon won't likely reserve the costly river water for extended periods beyond its one-year agreement, Nesbit said.
"In order to do an early site permit, we have to have a fairly competent water supply," the Exelon spokesman said. "We're going to continue talking with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. We have water reservations through next June. If the river authority has other uses for that water after that, they'll use it elsewhere."
Exelon could turn to other river authorities or the Gulf of Mexico for needed water, Nesbit said. The Guadalupe River, however, is the company's best option.
West would not speculate about other water customers the river authority could sell to, or how Exelon's decision will affect regional water planning.
"We've got some time to work on it," West said.
In the meantime, Exelon continues its hostile bid to take over NRG Energy, which proposes to build two new reactors in Bay City. The city is home to the South Texas Project, an operational nuclear power plant.
NRG Energy is one of four likely recipients of $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees, the Energy Department announced in May.
NRG stockholders meet in mid July to further discuss the takeover attempts.
Nuclear opponents say that while the economic sky fell on Exelon's attempts to build locally, problems bubble in other areas.
"There are major water issues regarding the Victoria site," said Jim Blackburn, Goliad County's Houston-based environmental lawyer. "The decision gives Exelon time that frankly does not surprise me they need. I think they're aware of the serious concerns at the Victoria site, specifically as they relate to water."
Comments
TxEx, have too agree with you!!!! I am surprised you did not get sensored.
To add.....do we need a full staff at VEDC? Tourist office? It will get bad here when you start seeing store closing in the Mall. So far its OK but I am sure they are hurting to stay open.
I wonder how many people were hired from the Job Jair at the National Guard and UHV several months ago????? Where are those stats...........
July 2, 2009 at 5:23 p.m."Hear that loud sucking noise all over Victoria? Those are people who had good paying jobs and lost them and are now leaving.
These are good people who have families. They want to provide for their families, not live off the government. They want to have a home in Victoria, but now they must sell, relocate and continue to be gainfully employed people. These are good, hard working people that are leaving our city.
To the city council: To borrow from the Clinton campaign, it's about jobs, stupid. What is the council doing to help bring jobs here? The zoo won't brings jobs here, Paul. Wi-fi won't bring jobs here, Joe. Enhanced liveability, won't bring jobs here, Denise. Fighting for the tax payer won't bring jobs here, David. Making sure our trash lids are shut won't bring jobs here, Tom. Sitting there silently won't bring jobs here, Gabriel.
Three years of a do nothing council. I'm getting into the lumber business here. Businesses and homes will be boarding up."
This one gets my vote for the greatest post EVER!!!
July 2, 2009 at 9:42 a.m.Hear that loud sucking noise all over Victoria? Those are people who had good paying jobs and lost them and are now leaving.
These are good people who have families. They want to provide for their families, not live off the government. They want to have a home in Victoria, but now they must sell, relocate and continue to be gainfully employed people. These are good, hard working people that are leaving our city.
To the city council: To borrow from the Clinton campaign, it's about jobs, stupid. What is the council doing to help bring jobs here? The zoo won't brings jobs here, Paul. Wi-fi won't bring jobs here, Joe. Enhanced liveability, won't bring jobs here, Denise. Fighting for the tax payer won't bring jobs here, David. Making sure our trash lids are shut won't bring jobs here, Tom. Sitting there silently won't bring jobs here, Gabriel.
Three years of a do nothing council. I'm getting into the lumber business here. Businesses and homes will be boarding up.
July 2, 2009 at 8:40 a.m.Exelon Nuclear won't decide whether to build a Victoria County plant for at least three years - and possibly as many 20.
Exelon extended its agreement - a reservation of 75,000-acre-feet of water per year - for another year, said Bill West, the river authority's general manager. The one-year agreement costs Exelon $1.1 million.
Exelon won't likely reserve the costly river water for extended periods beyond its one-year agreement, Nesbit said.
OK THEY WON'T MAKE A DECISION FOR THREE YEARS AND ARE ONLY CONTRACTING WATER FOR ONE AND WATER IS NECESSARY.
WHAT IS MISSING HERE???
July 1, 2009 at 8:21 p.m.I changed the blades on my lawn tractor yesterday and left the wrench on the deck. Promptly lost it in the orchard so I went to the pawn shop to get another one. The place was full of plant and construction hands selling everything they own just to buy some groceries for their families.
We need those jobs! Cap and trade could hurt the coal plant expansion too. I say again we need those jobs!
Please forgive my shouting;
IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK AS IF THE WHOLE OPPOSITION TO THESE PLANTS IS FUNDED BY THE WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID TO THE REST OF US, "WE'VE GOT OURS, THE HE[[ WITH THE REST OF YOU!"
Yes, we live in a sad, sick world!
July 1, 2009 at 5:27 p.m.Regarding Jim Blackburn's comment, there are not now, nor have there ever been serious concerns with the Victoria County site. Quite to the contrary, Exelon is preserving the option to build in Victoria County for the very reason that it is an excellent site.
July 1, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.Water, though a significant topic of discussion for this and any large project in this part of Texas, is specifically not a problem as per the multiple studies done before and after Victoria was chosen as the preferred site.
So now what? With area plants having permanent reductions in their workforce, temporary layoffs, pay cuts and even some closings, where will people in the Golden Crescent find work? They won't. Unemployment will continue to rise in Victoria county as well as the surrounding counties. What are our elected officials planning to do now?
Does the county have any kind of long range plan to attract jobs here? For that matter, does the city of Victoria even have a plan. Hold on to your skirts, girls because the exodus in Victoria is going to start blowing like crazy. Unemployment is continuing to rise. If people can't work, they will go somewhere else to find jobs. The feds and state can't continue to pay unemployment forever.
So when you look at the makeup of the current county commission, you know their primary concern is to be re-elected to the $60k+ jobs. Are they concerned about this right now? I'm afraid they are not.
And our city council is in even worse shape. Polasek just wants to be mayor. Hagan is a recruiter for a nursing home. Truman is in his job purely because of family. Rangel job hops every 18 months and knows nothing of local economics. The best job Soliz has ever had is the $275 a month he will get being a city councilman. Sadly only Armstrong and Halapaska are the only two on the council that understand that when there is no hope economic hope in the future, business will stagnate, board up and close and go elsewhere.
Apparently those sunglasses all those people are wearing on channel 25 are rose colored, cuz the future ain't so bright anymore. If you think the heat is bad now, wait until the backdraft of job losses hits.
July 1, 2009 at 8:18 a.m.