From Deseret News archives:
Guv opposes nuclear plant in Utah
Safety issues must be resolved, Huntsman says
"That's a deal-breaker," the governor told the Deseret Morning News in an interview the day after an interim legislative committee discussed a proposal that would allow utilities to recover the cost of building a nuclear power facility even before it begins generating power.
Huntsman successfully led Utah's fight to stop a high-level nuclear waste facility from being built on Goshute Indian land in Tooele County. That facility would have stored high-level waste generated by nuclear power plants around the nation.
The governor said he is also concerned about the liability issues surrounding a nuclear power plant, especially if a Utah facility were to have an accident similar to the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.
"This is a long-term proposal at best, I think, because you've got to look at the risk involved, and there is enormous risk potential," Huntsman said of the proposal discussed Wednesday by the Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee.
As drafted, the bill would allow utilities to seek the cost of building a nuclear power plant from ratepayers, even before the plant begins generating electricity and in some cases, even if the facility is never completed.
Noel said it was "unfortunate" the governor opposes the proposal.
"The only way we can meet our needs is through nuclear power," Noel said. He said the amount of waste a Utah plant would generate is "minuscule," and it's unfair to compare that to what the site on the Goshute land would have brought to the state.
"You're talking about bringing waste in from outside the state in massive quantities and storing it," the lawmaker said, calling it disingenuous to balk at a plant here, when the state sometimes uses nuclear power generated out of state through the power grid.
Critics of a nuclear plant in Utah praised the governor's stand.
"Gov. Huntsman wisely understands that building a nuclear reactor here is inconsistent with state policy and jeopardizes the successes that we've had in preventing other states from dumping their waste here," said Vanessa Pearce, executive director of HEAL Utah.
Recent comments
Someone posted a relfection of votes, noting that anti-Huntsman...
James | Oct. 1, 2007 at 1:32 p.m.
Governor Huntsman has his head in the sand as has many of his...
Ray | Oct. 1, 2007 at 12:59 p.m.
'Scaling up', while workforce is an issue (as it is with any industry...
gt4nuclear | Sept. 24, 2007 at 2:10 p.m.
- Haws playing like a veteran 12:36 a.m.
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers 12:35 a.m.
- Jazz go up against 'the best' 12:33 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:26 a.m.
- Bobcats stun high-flying Nuggets 12:23 a.m.
- Utes finally get to host Michigan 12:18 a.m.
- Flash apologize, offer refund 12:12 a.m.
- Editorial: Leave the economy alone 12:12 a.m.
- Dishonest global warming scientists 12:12 a.m.
- Tensions in Ceuta 12:12 a.m.
- BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
- Yet again, we learn BCS is a big joke
- Snow brings big chill
- Cougars in better mood about bowl
- Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
- Williams' late jumper tops Spurs
- Ranking the bowl games
- $2M error could mean layoffs
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Expert calls Mitchell delusional
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
278 - Letters: Global warming a lie
214 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
205 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
164 - Cougars going back to Vegas
148 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
143 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
110 - Harpring's NBA career is over
99 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
99
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Joyce Gannon offers the following advice...
GO UTES!!!
@David B 6:42 p.m. Dec. 8: "That is so dumb! I think I will listen to 98%...
i don't get it. whose fault is it? i think it's the children's fault. wanting...
What next, Mr. Bender, a call for folks to dig holes in their sandboxes and...
I still believe in U
I'm glad that the boy was not seriously hurt. Curiosity sometimes hurts a...
years ago, I accompany a friend of mine who is a profiler in law enforcement...
Wow. 102 - 40. Thats incredible.
Wasn't David Nixon on the roster for Oakland this week.
This is embarrassing...

