February 2013

Blizzard Nemo Knocks Out Pilgrim; NRC Ignores Activists' Request to Close It Down Before Storm

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station declared an emergency when it lost offsite power last Friday night, Feb. 8 as the historic winter storm hit Plymouth head-on. Pilgrim went back on line on Sunday morning, but then had to shut down again. It was restored Tuesday night, according to the Cape Cod Times.

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Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1 - NRC Integrated Inspection Report 05000289/2012005

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Status of PPL’s Rate Requests
Testimony of Eric Epstein
February 11, 2013

On October 15, 2012, Mrs. McConnell stated “1.8% of the District’s budget is devoted to servicing utility bills. On November 5, 2012, I apprised the Board that I have been litigating rate cases at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) for over 25 years, and can attest to the increased burden on property owners and senior citizens to pay monthly energy bills.

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THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR STATION, UNIT 1 - REQUEST TO USE A PROVISION OF A LATER ADDENDA OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS CODE FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS (TAC NO. ME9510)

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Bills proposed to aid solar industry
January 22. 2013 9:00AM - Last modified: January 22. 2013 9:38AM
Tim Stuhldreher

The Democratic chairman of the state House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee is introducing two bills aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania's commitment to green energy, particularly solar.

House Bill 100 would increase the amount of electricity the state's utilities must obtain from renewable sources, according to information from the office of state Rep. Gregory Vitali of Delaware County.

Pennsylvania's alternative energy portfolio standard requires 8 percent of utilities' electricity to come from renewable sources by 2021; Vitali's bill would raise that to 15 percent by 2023.

A second bill, House Bill 200, would provide $25 million per year to the PA Sunshine solar program, which gives rebates for small businesses and residences that install solar systems.

Advocates see measures such as H.B.100 and H.B. 200 as important tools for returning the state's solar installation industry to health. Solar installations expanded rapidly in Pennsylvania in the late 2000s, supported by state and federal subsidies, but the exhaustion of the PA Sunshine program's rebate funds and the collapse of the state's market for SRECs have hit the industry hard.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry has opposed previous proposals to increase the state's green energy requirements, arguing they raise energy prices and give solar energy unjustified preferential treatment.

Vitali will host a Democratic Policy Committee hearing at 10 a.m. Jan. 29 in Bryn Mawr to discuss the proposed bills.

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EXELON GENERATION CO., LLC - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (01) INVESTIGATION; SUMMARY OF 01 REPORT NO. 3-2010-034; NRC INSPECTION REPORT 05000456/2012012,05000457/2012012,05000454/2012012, 05000455/2012012,05000461/2012012,05000010/2012012, 05000237/2012012,05000249/2012012,05000373/2012012, 05000374/2012012, 05000352/2012012, 05000353/2012012, 05000219/2012012,05000171/2012012,05000277/2012012, 05000278/2012012, 05000254/2012012, 05000265/2012012, 05000272/2012012,05000311/2012012,05000289/2012012, 05000295/2012012, 05000304/2012012

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This issue's articles include:

• TMIA Advocates Revision of Evacuation Plans
• NRC Suspends Decisions on Licensing
• New Reactor at Susquehanna on Hold
• Susquehanna Units Log Frequent Outages
• PPL Rates Climb $71 Million on 1/1/13
• NRC Gets New Chairwoman
• Retiring Exelon CEO Says New Nukes Not Viable
• Around the Nation
• TMIA Friend John Hanger Seeks to Replace Corbett
• Mangano’s Book Exposes the Risks of Nuclear Power

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CHRONOLOGY of  PROBLEMS at the SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION
 
This chronology does not include the cost to the rate payer
to build Susquehanna-1 and -2. PP&L asked the Public Utility
Commission (PUC) for $315 million to recover the cost of
building Unit-1. The PUC granted $203 million on August 22,
1983, or a 16% increase to the customer. The company asked for
$330 million for Unit-2 but was allowed $121 million in April,
1985; an 8% increase to rate payers. In addition, PP&L
consumers have “contributed”  approximately $4.6 million
annually (since 1985) to the decommissioning fund.
(Also,  refer  to  May  15  and  August  13,  1998,  for  information
          on  “stranded  costs” passed on to  “hostage” PP&L  rate payers.)
Moreover, in the Winter 1999/2000, PPL unilaterally
devaluated the combined PURTA and Real Estate tax
assessments for the SSES. Prior to the Negotiated Settlement,
the nuclear power generating stations were assessed by PP&L at
approximately $1 billion. PPL is now claiming that the the SSES
is only worth $74 million or the same amount as the valuation of
the Columbia Hospital. If PPL prevails, the Berwick School
District and Luzerne County will experience revenue shock. PPL
is not paying or escrowing any moneys they owe to Luzerne
County and the Berwick School District.
    (See  April  23,  2001  and  July  13,  2003,  for  related  development).
The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station is owned by PP&L (90%)
and  the Allegheny Electric Cooperative (10%). The Allegheny Electric
Cooperative (AEC) is responsible for 10% of the cost of decommissioning.
PP&L’s consultant, TLG, estimated PP&L’s decommissioning share to be
$724 million. Therefore, the AEC is responsible for the remaining 10%, or
$79 million, of the $804 million projected funding  “target” for nuclear
decommissioning.

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