Down in Lacey Township, the NJDEP is holding a hearing on a plan that could result in the shutdown of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.
A year after the NRC issued Oyster Creek a 20 year operating permit extension, the DEP (and some in the legislature) are proposing to require cooling towers be constructed on site. The plant operator says the cost of the towers is prohibitive and such a requirement would result in the closing of the facility.
Just like he did before the Senate, CIANJ President John Galandak is testifying about the ripple effect that would have on the state's economy, and electric rates. From his remarks, as prepared,
Such a closing would immediately result in the loss of 700 jobs, many of which are high paying. In the long term, the plant’s closing would take more than $120 million out of New Jersey’s economy, according to a 2007 report conducted by Bates White. That does not include the impact of energy cost increases resulting from an act that would remove six percent of New Jersey’s energy generation from the grid with no plan to replace this loss, thereby adding to New Jersey’s already high cost of doing business at a time when the state should be doing all it can to create a climate which leads to job creation.
Finally, we believe this permit runs contrary to the public policy goals set by the legislature when it passed the Global Warming Response Act, and by the state’s Energy Master Plan. In order to achieve the CO2 reduction standards set forth by the Act and the Energy Master Plan, nuclear power needs to be part of the matrix of energy systems utilized by the state. At this point in our history, nuclear energy remains the only technology we have that can provide a reliable and substantial baseload while emitting virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Written comments from the public will be accepted by the DEP until March 15.
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