From Deseret News archives:
Utah N-storage takes 2 hits
Utilities back away from PFS Skull Valley project
Xcel was responsible for about 34 percent of Private Fuel Storage's budget.
Also Thursday, one of six other utilities in the PFS consortium that had placed a hold on its investments in 2002 Southern Co. completely pulled its contributions to PFS.
That leaves the other five still with a hold on their investments in the proposed storage facility for Tooele County's Skull Valley, but Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said without Xcel's chunk of the funding, there is little left to support the proposed site.
"The viability of the PFS proposal is seriously threatened," Hatch said. "Skull Valley is never going to happen."
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s office was pleased with Hatch's announcement but less certain that the battle has been won. "It certainly doesn't sound the immediate death knell for PFS," said Mike Lee, the governor's general counsel. "This is an early Christmas gift, but it doesn't mean that it's over."
Jason Groenewold, director of the anti-nuclear group Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, said he's encouraged by the Xcel development but isn't sure it means the dissolution of PFS.
He said the pullout of Southern Co. is encouraging, but he's not sure what Excel's moratorium on funding really means.
Huntsman has pushed hard to stop the waste facility for up to 44,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel rods proposed for land owned by the Skull Valley band of the Goshute Indian Tribe.
The proposal has long divided the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes, which has about 121 members. Chairman Leon Bear could not be reached for comment Thursday but in the past has said the project had the support of the majority of the tribe.
In a letter sent to Hatch from its President J. Barnie Beasley Jr., he wrote: "Southern Company has determined that Private Fuel Storage, LLC (PFS) cannot be successfully developed as a spent fuel repository in a time frame to meet Southern's needs."
Now only the Dairyland Power Cooperative will continue to fund the program. That utility only had less than a 12 percent share in PFS, according to Hatch's office.
Comments
- Will state consider gay rights law? 7:11 a.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Crash kills Utah County man
- Long days for BYU interns
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
247 - TCU showdown has big implications
194 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
94
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
TCU does not have to. All the works have been done by Utah. If TCU manage...
Your not that good either. Wynn has only played 5 quarters.
You gotta love the conservative mind. Why did George Will wait to write...
I see the uties are out in force. They are jealous that the Courgars keep...
I don't get all the cry and fuss over whether you see emotion or not. Are we...
It's reallllly difficult to think of Ernest Wilkinson, Dallin Oaks, Jeffrey...
There are about 15 million people without health insurance in this country....
I should have learned from last year never to count the Utes out even when...
Crush 'em, TCU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yewts are worthless.
LOL Just like your boys were going to be National Champs this year as a...



You can be the first to comment on this story.