Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.), September 9, 2007

...BUT SAFETY ISSUES AT OYSTER CREEK CAN'T BE IGNORED

By Janet Tauro, Asbury Park Press

At this crucial juncture in the debate over the relicensing of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey, the last thing the public needs is propaganda concerning New Jersey's energy future from high-profile political insiders masquerading as an environmental group.

The New Jersey Affordable, Clean Reliable Energy Coalition is Exelon's latest public relations effort to sway public opinion toward the continued operation of the corroding nuclear plant until 2029. Exelon put together the group to drum up support for relicensing.

Its debut comes at a time when our coalition, Stop The Relicensing of Oyster Creek, is gaining steam in the legal system. On Sept. 24, our coalition, which comprises six environmental and citizens' groups, will make history when we appear before the Atomic Safety Licensing Board and bring to light structural safety issues regarding the nuclear plant.

Exelon could have decided to spend its quite considerable bank account in a variety of ways to improve safety and environmental impact. Cooling towers would minimize destruction to Barnegat Bay. A concrete airplane-proof shell over the fuel pools, which hold 4,000 tons of radioactive waste sitting 70 feet in the air, would decrease the threat of terrorism dramatically. Exelon also could fund independent studies to evaluate the health effects, particularly on children and fetuses, of continuous exposure to low-level radiation.

Instead, Exelon is putting its money into creating a bogus environmental group designed to lure the public's attention away from safety issues and scare us into believing that Oyster Creek's closure would hurt the region economically. Its latest tactic is a study by Bates White, whose mission is to "optimize bottom line results" for its clients. In other words, make money for clients, in this case, Exelon.

The study ignores the financial consequences resulting from safety issues at the plant, particularly the fragility of the corroding drywell, the steel liner that holds the nuclear reactor and shields the public from radiation in the event of a meltdown.

This lobbying effort also failed to take into consideration any of the requirements set forth by the state Board of Public Utilities' Office of Clean Energy. The state regulations require that 22.5 percent of New Jersey's energy needs be met by renewable energy systems by 2021. Of that requirement, 2 percent must come from solar power. The BPU estimates that 1,800 megawatts of power could come from solar by 2021. Solar alone would triple Oyster Creek's output.

The lobby also failed to consider the wind farm project the state has slated off the coast of Cape May, as well as a considerable effort by environmental groups, nonprofits and grass-roots organizations to address climate change. These groups are meeting with community organizations and local elected officials to work out energy solutions.

Consider elected officials in Colts Neck, Neptune, Belmar, Red Bank, Jackson, Pine Beach, Chatham, Irvington, Montclair, Burlington County, Cape May County and East Windsor who are partnering with the New Jersey Environmental Federation to go green with anti-idling ordinances and the way they clean their buildings and light them. Consider the League of Women Voters volunteers who underwent extensive training on climate-change solutions and are going town by town encouraging local officials to implement energy-saving measures.

Consider the Brick and Toms River school districts, which together saved 2.3 million kilowatts of electricity, 38,000 therms of gas and more than $300,000 in costs by participating in a Green Schools Program sponsored by the nonprofit Global Learning Network. By learning simple conservation practices, the districts saved 1,530 metric tons of carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

Consider the communities, counties, university and agencies that have enlisted in the BPU's Clean Power Community Partnership and are tackling global warming on a local level through conservation and making renewable energy choices. They include Belmar, Long Branch, Red Bank, Hoboken, Basking Ridge, Maplewood, Trenton, Cape May, Montclair, Orange, Hudson County, Rowan University, Lindenwold, Middlesex County, Summit, West Orange, South Orange, Morristown and the Atlantic City Utilities Authority.

Consider the giant sculptures of brightly painted fluorescent light bulbs that have been placed in high-traffic spots in West Orange to heighten the public's awareness about conservation.

Consider Belmar officials, who have mandated energy conservation initiatives in the town's building codes.

Consider Monmouth University, which was lauded by the BPU for green practices and conservation programs devised by students and put into effect on campus.

These are a few highlights of groundbreaking energy initiatives being played out in our communities. This is how global warming needs to be addressed. New Jersey residents deserve an energy future that is safe, cutting edge and does not depend upon an aging, rusting dinosaur of a nuclear reactor whose time is so obviously up.

Janet Tauro, Brick, is a member of Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety (GRAMMES), a part of the Stop The Relicensing of Oyster Creek coalition.

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