December 18, 2007

To: Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities

Re: Opposition to AB 346 - repeal of the moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin this year finished a two-year study of Wisconsin’s electric energy policy.  As part of our effort to be well informed, we attended the meetings of the Legislative Council Special Committee on Nuclear Power.  The Council’s staff is to be commended for the high quality of information and advice provided to the Committee.  We would like to comment on the recommendations the Committee made and the resulting legislation.

The League of Women Voters has long recognized the importance of nuclear power as a valuable resource of electric energy.  We also place value on the low level of greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear generation of electricity.  However, the League OPPOSES the proposed legislation and offers the following reasons to REJECT the Special Committee’s recommendations.

 LWVWI has for decades opposed further licensing and construction of nuclear fission reactors until scientific questions regarding their effects on public health and safety can be resolved.  The League affirmed its support of the current moratorium law at our state convention in June because the conditions specified in the law still need to be addressed. Wisconsin is not alone.  Twenty other states have moratorium laws with similar conditions.

 Long-term storage of nuclear wastes is among the most troublesome issues to legislators, utilities, regulators, environmentalists, and citizens.  The proposed nuclear facility at Yucca Mountain has been under development for over twenty years.  It is still uncertain whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will license it.  If licensed, the most optimistic estimates are that it could accept nuclear wastes by 2017.  It then could take 20 years to collect and store the wastes currently stored at individual sites throughout the nation.  This is an unacceptable situation, worthy of halting any new construction.

 The very high costs of capital construction, federal/state regulations governing mining site protection and cleanup, storage and transportation assures out-of-state ownership.  Two Wisconsin utilities with nuclear power plants have already chosen to sell them to out-of-state corporations due in part to the high costs, continuing financial risks, and adverse public opinion.  Wisconsin’s regulatory role over out-of-state-owned utilities would be significantly diminished especially in matters of siting, operation, maintenance, retirement, closure, and post-closure security.  Further, our experience is that the PSC is more likely than the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be responsive to concerns of Wisconsin residents.

 Another significant issue is the siting of a nuclear plant.  Access to a large body of water is essential, presumably Lake Michigan.  This is ironic in light of President Bush having declared it a national treasure in 2004.  Subsequently, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basis Resources Compact was signed by Governor Doyle and four other governors and by premiers of two Canadian provinces for the responsible use and protection of the Great Lakes.  We should honor these commitments for the protection of Lake Michigan.

Last month the Midwest Governors Association Energy Summit did not include expanded use of nuclear power in its Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform for the Midwest. This was a wise choice, given the serious safety and economic issues that have not been resolved since the moratorium law was passed.  We urge you to support the current law and reject AB 346.