The cost issue will be higher if they are not built!
ATLANTA --- Communities up and down the Savannah River and on both shores could be harmed by the 88 million gallons of water needed each day in running two proposed nuclear reactors near Waynesboro, Ga., an environmentalist group says.
State regulators shouldn't grant a permit for expansion of Plant Vogtle until more study is done, according to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a Georgia-based environmental group. The group issued its warning in written testimony it filed recently with the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is considering whether to permit construction of the reactors.
But a spokesman for Georgia Power, the largest owner of Vogtle, said the additional water needed would be negligible -- just 1 percent of the average river flow.
However, power plants can consume three quarters of what's withdrawn or lose it as steam, making Plant Vogtle's increased average daily water usage equal that of one fourth of the state's population or as many as 2.3 million people, the Southern Alliance said. The water that's not consumed and returned to the river can raise the whole stream's temperature and endanger fish, especially when droughts lower the river level. The cost to Georgia Power customers can be high if the company has to find electricity from other sources during reduced operations, said Sara Barczak, the group's program director in Savannah.
The cost issue could grab the attention of the Public Service Commission, which usually relies on the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to issue water-related regulations, said commission spokeswoman Deborah Flannagan.
Comments
The cost issue will be higher if they are not built!
Water is not consumed by the plants and water "lost to steam" condenses back to water as soon as the steam cools. The water returned to the river is warmer, but rapidly cools as the river aerates itself while flowing. There is definitely an environmental impact, but it's negligible. The fish won't die and the crops won't fail. No, Sara Barczak, the sky won't fall.
I love a group with no scientific basis, just like chicken little running around screaming the sky is falling!!
Who is the leader of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy? Why no names mentioned? How many members are there? What is the education qualifier that gives them credibility? Do not feed us the rhetoric of fearmongers unless you investigate them FIRST?
It doesn't matter, Sonny will be using all of the Savannah River water for Atlanta so there won't be even be any for the existing reactors at Vogtle.
where do these groups get funding from? maybe we should find out and put those people out of business!
Thank you, Patricia Thomas, for your lucidity and succinctfulness.
Just more obstructionism by the econuts.
And so begins the sandbagging of our quest for Energy Independence! I wonder how much money OwlGore gave these pesimistic codpieces? America is doomed to failure, by the Idiots who would have us go communist!
Willis, quick, go by the clinic and grab you a fresh fetus from the trash can and flaggelate yourself. Then throw yourself under the wheels of progress.
HERE'S The deal, NO NEW NUKES= REAL HIGH POWER BILLS! And never mind the loss of the 3000 new jobs at Plant Vogtle. EAT FECES and EXPIRE S.A.C.E.!
Now that Ive let you all know how I feel about SACE, I'll do the math for you. The normal flow rate for the Savannah River is 9000cfs. That is nine thousand cubic feet per second. There is 7.6 gallons of water in a cubic foot. So, 9000x7.6=68,400gps. That is sixty-eight thousand, four hundred gallons of water per second. 60x68,400=4,104,000gps, four million, one hundred and four thousand gallons of water per minute. 60x4,104,1000=246,240,000gph, two hundred,forty-six million,two hundred forty thousand gallons of water per hour. At "normal" flow the 88 million gallons required would be about twenty minutes worth of water from the River. Twenty minutes out of the 24 hours in a day. With the flow rate at Clarke's Hill(Thurmond) Lake is set at 3100 cfs(for the drought) that is: 3100x7.6=23,560gps, twenty-three thousand,five hundred and sixty gallons per second. 60x23,560=1,413,600gpm, one million,four hundred thirteen thousand, six hundred gallons per minute. 60x1,413,600=84,816,000gph, eighty-four million,eight hundred sixteen thousand gallons per hour. So,even in a drought, like we see now, the Savannah River can easily provide water for Plant Vogtle in one hour and two minutes.
I believe that Energy Independence is worth the trade of an hours worth of River Water in Drought times, and twenty minutes worth of River Water during times of normal rainfall. The water is returned to the River or released as steam, which by the way, becomes clouds and rain.
If you really want to pay MUCH higher power bills, just remain silent and do nothing. If you would like Energy Independence and reasonable rates, call, write or e-mail your Public Service Commissioners and tell them to allow the expansion of Plant Vogtle. Wouldn't hurt to call, write and e-mail your Local, State and Federal Government officials as well.
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