Crowd endorses Hanford nuclear plant relicensing

RICHLAND - Energy Northwest's proposal to renew the license for its nuclear power plant near Richland drew positive comments from everyone who spoke at two Nuclear Regulatory Commission meetings Tuesday in Richland.

The meetings were scheduled to take comment on what the NRC should consider as it prepares an environmental study on Energy Northwest's request to operate the Columbia Generating Station for 20 additional years. Its original license, which is good through 2023, was for 40 years.

"The Columbia Generating Station represents an important environmental asset to the Northwest region of the U.S. as it generates critical electrical energy for our economy without CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions," said Bob Link, a manager at the Areva nuclear fuel fabrication plant near Richland.

"If the license is not renewed I can guarantee you the replacement source, even if it is not CO2-emitting, would consume precious resources in its construction and add to the global environmental footprint," he said.

He was one of about 25 people to attend the afternoon meeting. About 25 people also attended the evening session.

As a Tri-City resident, Dan Jordheim of West Richland said he likes to brag that 95 percent of the power to his house comes from sources that do not emit greenhouse gases, he said. And 10 percent of that power comes from the Columbia Generating Station, he said.

The environmental study should consider the benefit of power production from sources that do not emit greenhouse gases, he said.

Others spoke about Energy Northwest's importance to the Tri-City area.

The plant employs about 1,100 workers and produces enough electricity for the Northwest that it could supply the needs of about 1 million houses. It's also a significant source of tax revenues, said Steve Lee of the Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

The plant has safely and reliably produced electricity, and there's every reason to expect it to continue that performance, said Ed Revell, Richland mayor pro tem.

The community does have concerns about the long-term disposition of spent nuclear fuel, although that's outside of the NRC's area of responsibility, he said. But Hanford, which includes leased land for Energy Northwest, does have the capability to store used fuel long term, even if the community would prefer another option, he said.

The used fuel was expected to be sent to a national repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev., but the Obama administration has terminated the project.

The environmental study planned by the NRC will make sure that the Energy Northwest plant can operate safely and that its continued operation would comply with environmental regulations.