Niagra Mohawk, NYSEG and Rochester Gas and Electric are attempting to sell the Nine Mile Point one and two nuclear power reactors to Constellation Energy, a massive global power company. The sale of these reactors to this controversial corporation is a mistake for Central New York ratepayers and communities, who will be forced to bear the costs of the sale. Nine Mile one and two will close -- the question is whether it will be sooner or later. Here's why they should close now, instead of be sold.
1. Nine Mile one and two pollute the community
Nine Mile one and two are poorly designed reactors that routinely release radioactive waste into the air and water. Together, they have released over 2,000,000 curies of radiation since 1969, as part of routine operation -- making Nine Mile the fifth dirtiest plant in hte US. NiMo's spills, accidents, and illegal dumping of reactor waste have resulted in untold contamination of the community.
2. Nuclear Power = Environmental Racism
There is no safe or environmentally just solution to the disposal of radioactive waste. Nine Mile dumps it's radioactive waste in Barnwell, SC -- a poor 46% African-American community. Uranium mines, reactors, and dumps are disproportionately located in poor, rural and people of color communities.
3. Nine Mile one and two are aging, mismanaged reactors
Nine Mile has one of the worst safety records in the nuclear industry. NM1 is the oldest reactor still running in the US and has the worst internal cracking in the nuclear industry. NM2's safety systems have chronic problems, and was built with substandard equipment throughout the reactor. These cost-cutting problems will not change under Constellation's ownership.
4. Constellation is a bad neighbor
Constellation has a long history of opposing organized labor and endangering workers at it's Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant. In 1988, a worker died because of management negligence and workers have been injured and contaminated repeatedly in recent years. In fact, Calvert Cliffs was shut down for two years for safety violations and cost-cutting.
5. Electricity bills will skyrocket
Under the sale, electric rates will nearly triple during the summer and winter -- for the next 10-20 years. Constellation is also one of the power generators in California that have held ratepayers hostage to $12 billion in inflated electric rates. On top of that, NiMo even wants ratepayers to pay $2.5 billion more to cover it's bad nuclear debts and "lost revenues."
6. Shutting Nine Mile Point down would save jobs and money
NiMo is doing anything it can to pass off it's liability for Nine Mile one and two, and it would be safer and cheaper for the reactors to close and start a long term on-site cool down. The clean-up plant would save jobs and minimize the exposure of works and the public to the hazardous effects of radiation.
Call and Write:
NYS Public Service Commission
Public Comment Line
(800) 335 2120
PSC Chair Maureen Helmer
3 Enmpire State Plaza
Albany 12223
Source: CNY - Citizen's Awareness Network.
(315) 425 0430
cnycan@nukebusters.org
http://www.nukebusters.org/
