Nuclear plant planned for Idaho
KTRV Fox Channel 12
December 7, 2006
Boise, Idaho — A proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Idaho seems to be gaining momentum.
A company called Alternate Energy Holdings just announced it’s intention to build the plant.
Now the fight is on from those who want the nuclear option taken off the table.
“We want to make sure that people know early that this could be coming, and to be prepared,” said Jeremy Maxand, Executive Director of Snake River Alliance.
It’s a huge concern to Maxand, and the rest of the nuclear watchdogs at the Snake River Alliance — a proposed 15 hundred megawatt nuclear power plant, now planned for an area near Bruneau.
“Something will have to be built somewhere in Idaho in the next five to ten years to address power issues,” said Don Gillispie, President of Alternate Energy Holdings based in Virginia.
He says irrigators already need the power, and there will definitely be a future need, based on a report issued by the Idaho National Laboratory.
“It said we’re going to need about 13 hundred megawatts, I think by 2013. So something will have to be built to meet that demand or you’ll be in the
California situation where you’re buying power across state lines,” said Gillispie.
Maxand says there is no need, at least not for nuclear power, not now, not even in the future.
“We have more than enough clean and renewable energy in this state — wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, to meet our growing energy needs, and possibly export some of that energy out of the state,” he said.
Maxand hopes the state will look toward some of these other options, particularly wind as a viable replacement for the nuclear option.
Wind is already being explored quite heavily in Hagerman — a series of seven 388-foot-tall wind turbines were installed in that area of the state
just last year.
But whatever the choice is, Maxand is hopeful every option is thoroughly explored, before nuclear gets any serious consideration.
“And Idaho would be the last place in this country I think to need a facility like this,” he said, “and I think people should be aware and oppose
it if it comes to that.”
Before construction can even occur, the nuclear regulatory commission would still have to approve the site near Bruneau.
Of course the idea would also have to pass a series of legislative committee hearings.
But should it get final approval, construction could begin in 2008, and finish by 2012.