Mission

While industry contends that nuclear power is the energy source for the future, the reality is that nuclear power is not cost effective, creates radioactive waste that we do not know how to store, and raises serious safety concerns. Therefore, ELPC is challenging attempts to revive the nuclear industry by arguing that clean energy alternatives such as wind, solar, biomass, natural gas and energy efficiency are economically and environmentally preferable alternative to increased reliance on nuclear power.

 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Releases EIS for New Nuke, But Ignores True Impacts

On March 4th, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which recommends that an Early Site Permit be issued to Exelon. The permit would allow Exelon to "bank" the Clinton, Illinois site for 20 years. ELPC and our environmental and public interest colleagues are challenging the EIS as failing to adequately consider the need for power and the availability of cleaner energy resources. ELPC will testify on the draft EIS at a public hearing on April 19th in Clinton, and will file comments by May 25th.

ELPC became involved in the case in August 2004 when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board ruled that ELPC could intervene in the siting hearings to present expert testimony and legal arguments. ELPC contends that a combination of clean energy alternatives, including wind power, solar energy and natural gas generation, are better, faster, cheaper, safer and more environmentally sound than a costly new nuclear plant. ELPC and its attorneys are taking the lead on this issue and were joined by Public Citizen, Nuclear Energy Information Service and Nuclear Information Resource Service.

 

ELPC is an intervener in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (“NRC”) proceeding on Exelon’s application for an Early Site Permit (“ESP”) for the proposed Clinton 2 nuclear power plant. ELPC seeks to present a full evidentiary case that clean, renewable energy development, combined with natural gas and “clean coal” generation, is a better, faster, cheaper, safer and more environmentally sound alternative than building a new nuclear power plant. ELPC is taking the lead in presenting this clean energy alternatives contention, and is joined by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Public Citizen. Unfortunately, on July 28 the Licensing Board dismissed our clean energy alternatives contention, finding that the additional discussions of alternatives presented by Exelon and in the NRC Staff’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement satisfied the requirements of NEPA.  Since we believe the ruling is flawed, we have petitioned the full Nuclear Regulatory Commission to review the Board’s decision. We now await a ruling on that petition.

In addition to pursuing our contention, ELPC continues to participate in the NRC’s ongoing environmental review of Exelon’s ESP application.  The NRC Staff is currently reviewing the public comments filed on the Draft EIS and expects to issue a Final EIS in July 2006.