Report on Calvert Cliffs Public Meeting

Last night on Solomons Island, Maryland, the NRC held a public meeting concerning adding a third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant near Lusby. NEI's JoAnn Sperber was on hand to provide a report.

Calvert Cliffs Plant Neighbors Say 'Yes, In Our Backyard'

Southern Maryland policymakers and business leaders strongly endorsed plans to build a third reactor at Constellation Energy's Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant during a Nuclear Regulatory Commission meeting last night in Solomons, Md.

Wilson Parran, president of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, kicked off the meeting by describing a letter the board had approved earlier that day in support of the plant's expansion. "Some decisions are difficult," he said. "But this one was simple, uncomplicated and easy. Constellation is a great partner. Nuclear energy is clean and reliable. Nuclear energy is critical to our country's energy strategy."

UniStar Nuclear, a consortium that includes Constellation Energy and AREVA, submitted a partial combined construction and operating license application to the NRC last month. The remainder of the application will be filed early next year.

State Delegate Sally Jameson (D) warned the 300 attendees that the United States "is heading for an energy crisis. Conserving energy will help a lot and so will renewables. But we still will have a 20 percent gap. Nuclear energy is a green energy that will help to fill our energy demands."

Several opponents raised questions centering on used fuel, new-plant financing and environmental safety. Diane D'Arrigo of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, asked: "Where will all the waste go?" An NRC official described the agency's waste confidence policy that a permanent solution, specifically a national used fuel repository, will be the ultimate destination for the material.

But proponents, which include North America Young Generation in Nuclear, continued their endorsements throughout the three-hour meeting. Here's a sampling:

• "We have had a longstanding positive relationship with Constellation Energy and Calvert Cliffs. We conduct annual drills with them to ensure our state of readiness. ... I am confident they share our commitment to community safety." -- Dr. Robert Schlager of Calvert Memorial Hospital
• "Calvert Cliffs is a great partner. We train with them and have several different emergency plans that we practice all the time. And we support this [expansion] effort." -- Mike Evans, Calvert County Sheriff
• "Constellation Energy is an outstanding corporate citizen that pumps millions into the local and state economy." -- Darren Maertens, chairman of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce.

During an open house preceding the meeting, a longtime resident of Calvert County told me that when he graduated from the local high school in 1955, the principal advised graduates to leave the area. "That's all changed now because of the nuclear power plant. This plant gives us clean energy, good jobs and a strong community."

UPDATE: More from The Washington Post. Thanks to Shop Floor for the pointer.