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.
- Sporty gift ideas 6:07 p.m.
- Reactions to Tiger Woods saga 5:53 p.m.
- World Cup bid sets sales target of 5m 5:51 p.m.
- Sloan gets 1-year extension 5:50 p.m.
- Students talk live to astronaut 5:48 p.m.
- FLDS ask for new trust manager 5:45 p.m.
- High school girls soccer: All-region 5:44 p.m.
- Herbert names general counsel 5:38 p.m.
- More availability for H1N1 vaccine 5:38 p.m.
- Outdoor notes 5:37 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Mitchell compared to Ervil LeBaron
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Simple candies for the holidays
- MWC awaits bowl destinations
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
913 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
391 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
357 - Utes won't respond to Hall
277 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
242 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
219 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
172 - Religion in politics is tiresome
154
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
As the TV cameras Tuesday night scanned the West Point audience during...
LDS Church publisher Deseret Book has some specials for the holidays.
Max that was the worst thing to do you have to live with that the rest of...
I think that exmormons understand the translation process better than most...
Not one penny for abortion, unless from rape or incest.
Max Hall's family had beer thrown on them at an Arizona game? That is...
There is no such thing as "single payer" is is the government that will be...
The Pandora's box of polygamy as yet to be closed.
The only reason BYU won is because of the refs turning over the fumble call....
BSU and TCU should win in a BCS bowl, none of the games they played have been...
BYU Grad/Dad | 1:18 p.m. Dec. 2, 2009 wrote: "I would have to agree that...
What do you people expect? Kick him out of school? What? What do you want?...


