Deseret News | Guv opposes nuclear plant in Utah

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Guv opposes nuclear plant in Utah

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+1 for Sutton Hoo | 12:16 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

After seeing Governor Silver Spoon in action for the past two years I am convinced that had he been born the son of a chemical plant worker, rather than the son of a chemical plant owner, he'd be a janitor right about now.

And another thing... | 12:19 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I used to work with someone who knew Jr. when he was in high school and detested him. I won't repeat some of the stories he told me about him -- simply because I have no idea if they are true or not -- but I am beginning to understand why he didn't like him.

frozenchosen | 12:22 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

As a former Utahn, I'm saddened to see how far left the state has moved in terms of the governorship. If Huntsman really wanted to be a leader, he would build nuclear plants as fast as he could and expose the hypocrisy of the global warming crowd. That movement is strictly about political power and restricting our freedom - it has nothing to do with climate change. I've lived here in "liberal" Minnesota for 10 years and we have 2 nuclear plants with nary a puff of radioactivity out of either. Anyone who thinks that nuclear power isn't safe is a complete rube - which evidently includes your governor.

Comments continue below

eyes rolling | 12:58 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

"I pledge allegiance, to the Republican party, of the United States of America..."

Hi! I'm a typical Utahn. I'm a republican first, American second. If republicans support something, then I support it. If the liberals support something, then I automatically oppose it. No matter what. I don't need to study issues and make my own decisions. I have other people to do that for me! This is so easy! Hooray, conformity!

And one more thing, every decision must be made by whats best for the economy. Nothing else in life matters. There are no intangible benefits to anything in life. It's all about generating money and jobs! Thats all! BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS

Raymond Takashi Swenson | 1:12 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Governor Huntsman doesn't know squat about nuclear power generation. First of all, the Three Mile Island reactor was designed over 40 years ago, and with the advent of computer systems and better human interface applied to reactor controls, it has never happened again. Even then, nobody was injured in the worst nuclear "disaster" in US history. We let people die for entertainment purposes (e.g. NASCAR, football), but can't stand even low risk for the energy essential to modern civilization. Chornobyl in Ukraine stupidly lacked even the basic concrete and steel containment structure on every commercial nuclear reactor in the free world.

Second, nuclear fuel reprocessing can only be done safely and economically at large centralized plants, because the process generates highly radioactive waste that has to be managed safely. The risk of shipping new and old nuclear fuel is negligible (not a single radiation fatality in 50 years!) compared to the risks of putting spent fuel through acid baths and other processes to create new fuel rods. That is why the DOE wants three centralized reprocessing facilities where the process can be kept isolated and safe. One will probably be in Idaho, with fuel shipped through Utah.

Clyde | 1:42 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I have a feeling the Guv has a secret affinity for Jane Fonda and a secret disdain for living in China. I'm voting for a Republican next election.

UtahBeekeeper | 1:57 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I am heartened by the favorable opinions expressed here regarding nuclear power. I am also so very glad that Gov Kennedy . . . errrrrr Huntsman does NOT support the Presidential Campaign of Mitt Romney. Mitt has plenty of obstacles in his path to the White House, and not having to explain our GOV's support is a blessing!

Praise for John | 2:41 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

I for one thing Governor Huntsman is doing great things for the state of Utah. I don't find him liberal or conservative. I find him balanced and objective, willing to look at all sides to all situations. I trust his judgement. He has yet to make a decision that I strongly oppose, and has made several that I strongly support. The only people who are truly angry are staunch conservatives and staunch liberals who think they are Gods in their superior understanding of the way the world should work.

As safe as nuclear power now seems to appear, it is still clinicly dangerous if the circumstances are not controlled. Remember how people said not even God could sink the Titanic. We really don't understand nuclear power (for good and bad) any more than doctors understand the human body.

YOW | 2:56 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

All life is a blur of Republicans and meat. If you canï¿½t say something nice, say something surrealistic.

stewart | 3:00 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

"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." So Gov. Huntsman wants to drag the old and worn TMI red herring across the road one more time. Remember no one was killed or injured at TMI. There have been zero nuclear injury accidents in U.S. commercial reactors from the beginning. Also, Nuclear Power is Safe & Smart was wrong. This safety record is not 30 years it is 51 years old. Our Navy folks have been living and working within a few feet of a reactor for over 50 years with no injuries due to the reactor. Using this type paranoia by the governor seem unbecoming.

Lives in San Juan | 4:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

The uranium processing plant in Blanding is one of only a few in the U.S. It has been reprocessing used fuel from reactors. The increased price of uranium has caused the company to open some of their own uranium mills in the Four Corners area. Local mine owners hope the Blanding mill will soon start buying local uranium. The unemployment rate on the Navajo Reservation is over 50%. The lack of jobs in rural parts of Utah causes people to move to the large cities. San Juan School District has dropped from nearly 3500 students to 2800 students in ten years. A nuclear power plant in Blanding or Kanab would provide jobs and utilize uranium already in this area.

I support a nuclear power plant in southern Utah. The resources and employees are here.

Carl | 5:43 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

As an out of stater, I very much admire Governor Huntsman's stand on nuclear waste. Ground water contamination is a by-product of nuclear waste.

Caution, technology and commitment will help solve these serious issues and I believe your Governor is on the right track.

PoliSciDoc | 6:25 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Using one of several European or Japanese nuclear plant designs would virtually eliminate the possibility of a meltdown--German reactors are regularly submitted to actual meltdowns to ensure their safety. Additionally, all of our conventional "American Made," plant designs are all archaic, newer designs are far more efficient in fuel-rod usage and can utilize reprocessed ore multiple times to ensure it is near fully spent.

Other than solar, hydro, geothermal, and wind-turbine, nuclear power is one of the best sources of clean energy. While we really should pursue these other options to the greatest extent possible, pursuing them in conjunction with nuclear power will provide for the needs our communities well into the next generation. With our wonderful gasoline hikes over the last few years, we've learned how valuable a commodity energy is. We would be stupid to not capitalize on selling cleanly generated electricity to Phoenix, Las Vegas, and half of California particularly when we have the resources and land to do it.

Clean energy production isn't just good for the environment, its good for the economy.

PoliSciDoc | 7:14 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

"The pebble bed reactor (PBR) is an advanced nuclear reactor type. This technology claims a dramatically higher level of safety and has achieved higher thermal efficiencies than traditional Nuclear Power Plants. Instead of water, it uses pyrolytic graphite as the neutron moderator, and an inert or semi-inert gas such as helium, nitrogen or carbon dioxide as the coolant, at very high temperature, to drive a turbine directly. This eliminates the complex steam management system from the design and increases the thermal efficiency (ratio of electrical output to thermal output) from 32-35% to 40-50%. Also, the gases do not dissolve contaminants or absorb neutrons as water does, so the core has less in the way of radioactive fluids and is more economical than a light water reactor.

The technology was first developed in Germany[1] but political and economic decisions were made to abandon the technology.[2] In various forms, it is currently under development by MIT, the South African company PBMR, General Atomics (U.S.), the Dutch company Romawa B.V., Adams Atomic Engines, INL, and the Chinese company Huaneng [3]."

Question | 7:35 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

Govenor Is it true that japan has 56 nuclar power plants in Japan.And havnt had one accedent.If so it might he the fuel of the future and just maybe it would pay to look into it

Scaling up for Nuclear | 8:07 p.m. Sept. 21, 2007

America does not have the technical engineering man power to expand nuclear power in any signficant way. Most universities have phased out nuclear engineering programs, and no engineering student concerned about a promising future career would go into nuclear given the grim job outlook. Most of the existing nuclear talent is in the military and close to retirement. Regarding the waste, the real issue is not its safety in some Nevada landfill -- no, it is the transport via railways across the nation. Not only do all railways go through major cities, like Chicago, Salt Lake, and Las Vegas, but each nuclear waste train will be a target for terror. Honestly, all we need is one nuclear train accident or minor terrorist attack that would bring chaos to a Las Vegas or Chicago, and the entire nuclear industry will end overnight. Trust me, the insurance companies are already pondering such scenarios and most aren't taking on the risk.

What about the Water? | 5:53 a.m. Sept. 22, 2007

Hey, what about all the water nuclear power needs? I thought we were sending our water to Vegas for its water fountains??? Which farms and golf courses here in Utah are going to give up there water rights for a nuke?

gt4nuclear | 2:10 p.m. Sept. 24, 2007

'Scaling up', while workforce is an issue (as it is with any industry these days), I don't think its as dire as you portray it. Only a hand full of schools actually closed their nuclear engineering programs, in fact a few schools rethought that decision and retained their programs after seeing a three-fold increase in enrollment over the last few years (think its up to ~1600 undergrads this year). And if you look at starting salaries, nuclear engineers are higher that just about any other type of engineer out there. That said, it is true that about half of the current nuclear workforce will be eligible for retirement within the next 10 years. But as a member of both the American Nuclear Society's Young Members Group and the North American Young Generation in Nuclear, I can tell you there are thousands of young professionals (in their 20's and early 30's) in this country that are eager, willing and capable of not only maintaining the nuclear industry but supporting its expansion to safely meet the public's need for nuclear science and technology (power generation, medical isotopes, research, etc).

BTW, I'm 27 (w/6+yrs experience) looking at a long, prosperous career in nuclear.

Ray | 12:59 p.m. Oct. 1, 2007

Governor Huntsman has his head in the sand as has many of his predecessors. As a conservative he only uses this view or the liberal view to the advantage needed at the moment. Utah needs the jobs, money and environmental protection along with a dependable power supply that only nuclear power can provide.

Spend some time investigating the nuclear alternate power source instead of promoting dangerous coal mining that requires investigating fatal accidents in retrospect.

Governor Huntsman, pay attention to the wants, needs and requests of the people that put you in office thinking that they will be voting for an individual that has the best interest of the Great State of Utah and its people in mind.

James | 1:32 p.m. Oct. 1, 2007

Someone posted a relfection of votes, noting that anti-Huntsman comments totaled 36 out of 360,000.

Well, in politics if one person says it many, many more feel it. So in general if 36 people say it, that means thousands line up for it.

Though the target number is not 360,000. It is more like 2,800. For 2,800 Republican delebates we get a new governor. Stay tuned, the campaign of Huntsman political life line is about to go public.

His policies reflect poor vision, guidance and understanding of right or wrong. Take his most recent statements on vouchers. First he is for them, then won't touch them but now will vote for them but won't take a stand on them. If a cartoon were drawn he would be magically balanced on the tip of a needle.

The balancing act ends Republican Convention of 2008!

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