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Former federal regulator: Plans for Fermi 3 nuclear reactor could lead to job loss

Former Federal regulator: plans for Fermi 3 nuclear reactor could lead to job loss Consumers would pay for new plant with higher rates The Michigan Messenger  By Eartha Jane Melzer 4 May 09 Construction of a new nuclear power plant in Michigan could cost the state jobs, according to Peter Bradford, a former Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner who toured the state last month.

“No state has ever succeeded in improving its jobs picture by building unnecessarily expensive power plants,“ he said in a phone interview. “The reason is the impact of high rate on the customers in commercial and industrial class.”………………..

Bradford pointed to recent events in Missouri as “practical proof” that new nuclear plants are not in the interest of industry. Last week the AmerenUE company, which already operates one nuclear plant near the state capital in Jefferson City, canceled its plans to build a second when the Missouri legislature refused to pass a law that would have allowed company to pass on construction costs to ratepayers.

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the project was dropped after large industrial customers including Noranda Aluminum, Anheuser Busch-InBev and Monsanto joined with AARP to successfully oppose the legislation.

Michigan law already allows utilities to pass on construction costs to ratepayers………………………

“In the near term, nuclear power is likely to be one of the more expensive options for getting electric power,” said Greg White, a liaison with the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.

“Our policy in Michigan is to try and find the lowest-cost options first.”…………………….Generally speaking, energy efficiency programs will reduce electric rates and renewable energy projects will stabilize rates, but, White added: “One of the challenges we face is that almost anything we do is going to have, in the near term, a cost increase.”

Michigan Messenger » Former federal regulator: Plans for Fermi 3 nuclear reactor could lead to job loss

May 6, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized