Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Virginia Says Yes to Nuclear

—

by

James A. Bacon
in ,

Yeah, Virginians know a thing or two about nuclear power. Here, a nuclear aircraft carrier is disassembled in Newport News.
Yeah, Virginians know a thing or two about nuclear power. Here, a nuclear aircraft carrier is disassembled in Newport News.

Governor Bob McDonnell has made ten appointments to a new nonprofit group, the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority, which has the mission of serving as an interdisciplinary study, research and information resource for Virginia on nuclear energy issues. Another seven positions, all state employees, round out the 17-person board.

Non-state appointees come from industry and academia, including Babcock and Wilcox, Areva Inc., Dominion Resources, Newport News Shipbuilding, Mitsubisi Nuclear Energy Systems and others.

The creation of such an entity is long overdue. I called for something similar about five years ago. With several of the major players in the U.S. nuclear industry located here, Virginia has the makings of a powerful North American nuclear power industry and research cluster. Admittedly, the economics and politics of nuclear power look a little dicey right now, as PeterG has noted on this blog, but innovations like small-scale nuclear reactors could change the outlook. The potential for the nuclear power industry to provide a big boost to university research and economic development can’t be ignored.

While the creation of the VNECA is a positive development, there is one disturbing aspect to the entity. The consortium will not be subject to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. Given the extraordinary sensitivity of anything relating to nuclear power, the controversy over uranium mining in Pittsylvania County, and the presence of seven state officials in the consortium, there is no justifying a lack of transparency except in cases when proprietary technology is being discussed. The General Assembly should remedy that defect in January.

— JAB

Share this article

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

Comments

4 responses to “Virginia Says Yes to Nuclear”

  1. Peter Galuszka Avatar
    Peter Galuszka

    One has to love, the traditional, inside baseball totalitarian aspect to this that Bacon genuflects before.

    A bunch of state officials, trustworthy college people lobbyist and nuclear industry executives, their eye son the bottom line, get to meet in private with no accountability on FOIA or state rules, and decide OUR energy policy as it pertains to nuclear.

    Average citizens have NO ROLE in this. They are cut out.

    We have learned absolutely nothing from GiftGate and neither has Bob McDonnell. No wonder Virginia gets “F” for government accountability.

    This is just another example.

  2. James A. Bacon Avatar
    James A. Bacon

    I genuflect before the totalitarian aspects of the Authority?

    I guess that’s why I concluded with this: “There is no justifying a lack of transparency except in cases when proprietary technology is being discussed.”

    I might actually agree with you, but I spend so much time fending off your brickbats that I don’t get the chance!

  3. ExpandYourLearning Avatar
    ExpandYourLearning

    1. Everyone should be following Japan’s nuclear crisis and learn why NO state should say yes to nuclear. Best place to learn: ENENEWS (dot) com

    2. Mr. Bacon, maybe you can research why since 2002, high amounts of Tritium are found in Ashland, VA drinking water. Something is causing high amounts of Tritium in Ashland, VA drinking water.

    For example: on 2/17/12 — Tritium @ 3,220 pCi/L was found in Ashland, VA drinking water

    Here’s the EPA link to learn more: www (dot) epa.gov/radnet/radnet-data/erd.html

    3. Although dismissed away by the nuclear industry, tritium crosses the placenta and is a carcinogen.

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      There are two separate issues. One is achieving economy development by fostering the growth of the nuclear power industry in Virginia. The other is installing proper environmental safeguards against the hazards of nuclear radiation, waste, etc. One does not preclude the other. We need both.

Leave a Reply

Read More