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LETTER TO THE EDITOR (from Ton Kruzen)November 25, 2012 Dear Editor, Last week, it was reported that Missouri Democratic Governor Jay Nixon and Missouri Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill were “disappointed” that an Ameren UE /DOE plan to build nifty modular nuclear power plants was killed. How disappointing that their energy thinking was firmly trapped in old and proven dangerous technology. Nuclear Modules sound great but not when they can be shipped anywhere around the state and bringing with them the added dangers of how to transport and store that nuclear waste. Some of our roads are very antiquated and curvy and generate accidents. We can no longer as a people afford to sacrifice land, water, air and ecosystems to the great God Nuke. Support for a different type of modular energy production would be, should and could be welcome. Solar photovoltaic modules can be placed anywhere in Missouri, on rooves, backyards, walls, parking -lots or even on the medians of our divided highways! They can be placed there safely, while employing thousands of citizens to construct, install and maintain them. The added bonus is that there is no waste storage and transportation problem. We have the technology now to overcome the limitations of sunless days and night time storage. Missouri could and should lead the way. We can make solar modules here. We can reduce our electrical waste by increasing our efficient use of electricity. We can make energy efficient light bulbs and appliances right here, again employing thousands of citizens. We can usher our state and our country into the 21st Century regarding energy production. Missouri prides itself on its Conservation Department. We could and should equally pride ourselves on energy conservation, promoting energy efficiency and rampant innovation. Senator McCaskill and Governor Nixon must not remain stuck in a dangerous dinosaur technology that brought us the nuclear disasters like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima- a technology that no insurance company will insure. We should be looking forward like the Democrats recently reminded us. Sincerely, Tom Kruzen Mountain View, Missouri 417-934-2818
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Ameren will find a way!
The Governor and our congressional delegation can be disappointed all they want. The loss of an Energy Department grant will not stop Ameren UE from expanding their nuclear energy source ambitions. In my estimation, they will simply apply to the PSC for a rate increase for the specific purpose of building modular reactors at Callaway. And the rate increase, of course will be passed on to us the consumers.
In the early 1980's, UE cancelled their second approved light water reactor because nuclear power plants were prohibitively expensive. Callaway #1's final cost was $1.4 billion (it was initially estimated at $800 million). I'm at a loss to come up with why, 30 years later, that nuclear power plants would be economically feasible.
Unless we as rate payers start putting endless pressure on the politicians and Ameren UE to end nuclear and dirty energy power sources, we will continue paying the price of having theses shysters provide our electricity.
Charles Phillips
Boonville, MO
email: ozark-wild@att.net