Comments: Shutdown North Anna, built on know eartqauke faults, strange the Nukes always bring in their own, are they paid to attend the meeting? Shutit down now!
Public Square debates nuclear energy
By: PETER BACQUÉ | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: November 16, 2011
Depending on how you look at it, speakers said, nuclear energy is dangerous and expensive, or safe and economical.
Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station produces about 20 percent of the electricity the company generates in Virginia annually, but the Aug. 23 central Virginia earthquake tripped its two reactors offline, an unprecedented event for the U.S. nuclear-power industry.
"Are the plants safe?" said Dominion Generation's Eugene S. Grecheck, a panelist invited to speak at Tuesday's Public Square forum at the Richmond Times-Dispatch's downtown offices. "That was the first thought that ran through all of our minds."
But North Anna is in the central Virginia earthquake zone. The nuclear units should never have been constructed there, said Louis Zeller, science director for Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in Glendale Springs, N.C.
"Earthquakes cannot be predicted," Zeller said.
About 90 people attended Tuesday's community discussion, which was moderated by Thomas A. Silvestri, head of the Richmond Media Group, which includes The Times-Dispatch, TimesDispatch.com, Richmond.com and Richmond Suburban Newspapers.
While nuclear-power supporters — and Dominion Virginia Power employees — dominated the audience, the give-and-take on critical issues was balanced.
But Erica Gray, a grandmother and organic farmer in Henrico County, retorted, "Fukushima, by the way, is ongoing."
Read more:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/public-square/2011/nov/16/tdmain01-public-square-debates-nuclear-energy-ar-1462321/
