Nuclear energy's future focus of talks

This week's workshop in Sacramento will look at Diablo Canyon and San Onofre power plants' waste storage, aging operating components and effects on the Pacific Ocean's environment

By David Sneed

The Tribune

As Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant marks 20 years of operation, the California Energy Commission will hold a two-day workshop Monday and Tuesday to take a comprehensive look at the future of nuclear power in the state.

The workshop in Sacramento will be the first time in almost 30 years the state is taking such a complete assessment of nuclear issues. About an hour at the end of each day of the workshop will be devoted to public comment.

Energy officials do not know whether any new policies or regulations will result from the workshop, said Mary Ann Costamagna, commission spokeswoman.

Thirteen percent of the state's electrical power is provided by its two nuclear power plants -- Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County and San Onofre in northern San Diego County.

The plants have been reliable sources of low-emission electricity. However, they face several challenges in the coming years, including radioactive waste storage and expensive equipment replacements.

Two San Luis Obispo County residents on opposite sides of the nuclear energy issue will participate in the workshop. Diablo Canyon plant manager David Oatley will represent Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

"He will talk about the excellent safety record of Diablo Canyon and the contribution it makes to the state's electrical needs," said Jeff Lewis, plant spokesman.

Rochelle Becker, executive director of the San Luis Obispo-based Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, will argue that nuclear power should be phased out in favor of renewable energy sources.

"We've had 20 years of nuclear power and waste," she said. "Twenty years is enough."

The first day of the workshop will be devoted to the biggest challenge facing nuclear plants nationwide -- storage of the highly radioactive waste they produce. Both Diablo Canyon and San Onofre will build aboveground dry cask storage facilities in the coming years at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars each.

They are necessary because storage pools at each plant are filling up and construction of a centralized storage facility at Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas has been repeatedly delayed. The earliest that facility could open is 2012.

The second day will focus on the operating status of the two nuclear plants. Although the plants are licensed to operate for 20 more years, some crucial components are aging and in need of replacement.

The most significant are their steam generators. Diablo Canyon's steam generator replacement is expected to cost ratepayers more than $700 million starting later this decade.

Both plants also face concerns about earthquake safety, the threat of terrorist attacks and the effect of the plants' cooling systems on the ocean environment.

Michael Thomas, with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Luis Obispo, and Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, have been invited to the workshop to discuss the impacts of the nuclear plants on the state's coastal environment.

State energy officials say it is unlikely any new nuclear plants will be built in the state in the near future. State law prohibits the construction of any new nuclear plants until the federal government provides a permanent place to store the spent fuel.

The workshop also will explore the complex way nuclear plants are regulated. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sole jurisdiction over radiation safety and plant security. However, the state Energy Commission regulates other aspects of nuclear power including its economic viability, reliability and cost to ratepayers.

To participate ...

The nuclear energy workshop is open to the public. Those who cannot attend can listen to the proceedings via an Internet broadcast. To listen in, go to www.energy.ca.gov/webcast/.

The public can also call in and participate in the meeting. Call 1-888-323-9686 by 9 a.m. the day of the meeting and ask for call leader Peggy Falgoust. The password is "workshop."

David Sneed covers environmental issues for The Tribune.

E-mail story ideas and comments to him at dsneed@thetribunenews.com.

[cdn-nucl-l] California gov't to discuss nuclear power

Nuclear energy's future focus of talks