Nuclear power debate runs hot
A debate last night between Ameren Missouri‘s Scott Bond and Ed Smith of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment‘s served as proof that passion runs deep when it comes to nuclear power.
For two hours, Bond and Smith (and occasionally members of the audience) argued the benefits and shortcomings of nuclear power at the Ethical Society of St. Louis in Clayton. Video of the debate is available on YouTube. Smith’s opening can be seen here, and Bond’s opening statement here.
Topics ran the gamut, from broad subjects like U.S. energy policy to safety of spent fuel storage and the industry’s safety record in light of the recent disaster at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. Sometimes discussion strayed into the weeds, such as a back-and-forth between an audience member and Warren Wood, an Ameren vice president, on half life of thorium, a radioactive element.
Not surprisingly, quite a bit of talk focused on Ameren Missouri’s efforts to pass legislation that would enable the utility to pass through $45 million to its customers to cover the cost of seeking an early site permit for a second reactor in Callaway County.
After all, Bond is Ameren Missouri’s manager for nuclear development. Smith is No-CWIP coordinator at Missouri Coalition for the Environment. CWIP stands for construction work in progress, the pay-as-you-go method of financing Ameren insists is necessary to build a new nuclear plant.
Under a 1976 law approved by Missouri voters that bans CWIP financing, Ameren would have to begin generating electricity at a new nuclear plant before it could charge customers for it. That would cost the utility hundreds of millions of dollars more in interest and effectively put the project out of reach.
As Bond explained:
“When you buy things on a credit card they cost more.”
The fact that Ameren won’t build another reactor without CWIP underscores the dubious economics of nuclear power, critics say.
Smith took Bond’s the analogy a step further, explaining that when consumers charge a new TV at Best Buy on their credit card, they can instantly take it home and plug it in. Ameren wants authority to begin charging customers years before a plant would be built, if one is built at all.
“All we get is higher rates now with the promise of an early site permit later on,” he said.
Judging by the response of the 125 or so people in the audience, including three members of the Missouri General Assembly, last night’s dialogue probably changed few minds and only entrenched firmly held views about the role of nuclear power.
In case anyone is still on the fence or wants to continue the debate, the Ethical Society is hosting a followup discussion on Sept. 20.
And, of course, the debate over CWIP is sure to continue in Jefferson City.
-Jeffrey Tomich
