Nuclear Reactors in Utah?

Nuclear Reactor and Lake Powell

Last fall, the Utah State Legislature considered rewriting state law to make it easier to develop nuclear power in Utah. The legislation drafted would have allowed utility companies to recover billions of dollars in construction costs from ratepayers even before a reactor came online, and even if it never came online.

Please sign the petition below and help us send a clear message to our state policymakers that Utahns will not shoulder the risks of nuclear power in our state before we consider the consequences and the alternatives.

Your petition will be sent to:

• The Utah Public Service Commission, whose mission is to provide “safe, reliable, and reasonably priced utility service"to Utah ratepayers.
• Sen. Scott Jenkins (R-Plain City) and Rep. Mike Noel (R-Kanab)--co-chairs of the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee, which is drafting this legislation
• Dianne Nielson, Gov. Huntsman's Energy Policy Advisor

Dear Commission Members, Sen. Jenkins, Rep. Noel, and Ms. Nielson,

I am concerned about legislation that would rewrite state law to tilt the playing field in favor of building a nuclear reactor in Utah over any other alternative energy source.

Nuclear power is incredibly expensive and could double our electricity rates, especially if legislation forces Utahns to foot the enormous construction costs of a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power poses unique problems, including inherent safety risks from radiation leaks and possible terrorist attacks. With no national disposal facility for nuclear waste in sight, any nuclear power plant in Utah will become a high-level waste facility for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, a nuclear power plant in Utah would greatly impair our state's efforts to keep out the nation’s high-level nuclear waste.

In the light of these concerns, it is premature for the Legislature to consider legislation that would promote the development of nuclear power in Utah. I therefore urge you to oppose any policy changes that would do so.