nuclear-news

Appeals Court Hears Argument On Nuclear Plant Decision,Wabe.org, EMMA HURT • JUN 18, 2019  THE GEORGIA COURT OF APPEALS HEARD ARGUMENTS TUESDAY ABOUT WHETHER A STATE DECISION TO CONTINUE EXPANDING PLANT VOGTLE BROKE ANY REGULATORY RULES. A FULTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE DISMISSED THE CASE ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS IN DECEMBER, AND APPELLANTS ARE REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION OF THAT DISMISSAL.Georgia Power is expanding Plant Vogtle, a nuclear power plant near Waynesboro, Ga. It’s the only nuclear power plant under construction in the country.

The Public Service Commission, which regulates Georgia Power, has to review Plant Vogtle’s ongoing costs during semiannual Vogtle Construction Monitoring (VCM) reports. Back in 2017, during VCM 17 the Commission had a big decision to make: should Georgia Power continue construction, even though its contractor was going bankrupt from building it?

The commission decided yes, the higher costs and longer schedule were acceptable enough for the project to continue.

The advocacy groups in court, including Georgia Watch and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light are trying to challenge the decision, saying it was more than just checking expenses.

“This didn’t limit itself to simply approving expenditures that had accrued and been spent,” John Salter, the advocates’ lawyer, said…

…Now the court will decide by the end of the year if the advocates have the grounds to challenge that 2017 decision. https://www.wabe.org/appeals-court-hears-argument-on-nuclear-plant-decision/