December 2, 2008
Making Progress.
published in the Citrus County Chronicle.
Comments on “Nuclear-generated power is not the way to go”. Page C4 Sunday, November 30, 2008.
included, “You should have said more about customers' wallets.” “A petition and a
class action lawsuit is the way to redress FS 366.93, and the capital charges levied upon customers.” “We
need the 500 jobs, and its safe, and good for the environment.” “If nuclear is not the way to go.
What is?”
Nuclear generation promises to be at least twice the cost in cents per kWh than wind or solar.
The Governor has been addressed twice. An easier remedy to FS 366.93 might be, “Mr Lyash – don't
do it, in spite of what the law may allow!”
Progress Energy writes: "Tritium (a hydrogen radioactive isotope, and classified cancer
causing agent) is a byproduct of generating electricity at nuclear power plants. All nuclear plants
release tritium into both the water and air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the
acceptable level of tritium concentrations in ground water and drinking water". It's the stuff used
to make our watches glow in the dark.
Please don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that algae, plankton or fish will glow and reduce our
need for generating capacity, nor that they will grow arms and legs, but they could die or get bigger or
poison what eats them. No one knows.
Progress Energy has right of way over hundreds of miles of land under existing transmission lines. It uses
solar technology in five Florida SunSmart schools, and exercises Hydrogen fuel initiatives in the state. It's
facility in Citrus County has cheap rail car access.
Why not exploit these assets? Possibly, by siting solar installations on their own rights of way land,
capturing the electricity and back-feeding it to the plant site to supply the national grid, converting excess
load to hydrogen fuel?
A balanced complementary generation policy is needed. If this were founded in Citrus County creating jobs
and increasing our County tax purse – go, make Progress!
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