Ramos, J. (2020, February 13). PG&E Offer Of Free Electricity From Nuclear Power Plant Raises Ethical Dilemma. Retrieved from https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/02/13/pge-offer-of-free-electricity-from-nuclear-power-plant-raises-ethical-dilemma/
Community choice energy companies or CCA’s have been taking business away from PG&E for a few years now. So it came as a surprise to East Bay Community Energy when the utility recently offered up to $11 million worth of carbon-free energy. The catch was that all the power was coming from the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. The community is a part of a nuclear free zone as many of the people don’t want to be a part of creating nuclear waste. The plant (the only plant) is expected to close in 2025, but this deal was possible going to postpone that. The main dilemma is do they follow PG&E and hope they have their best interest in mind? Or do they stay true to their philosophical goal.
There was a video attachment to this article which interviewed many residents. One of the older residents (who wasn’t in favor of nuclear power) said that the waste produced lasts for thousands of years. Although this is true, the resident seemed to be conforming with the rest of the ‘nuclear-free’ residents with little evidence to back up her stance. PG&E are already under enough scrutiny and trying to ‘lowkey’ give ‘free’ energy to Berkley people didn’t go the way they expected. I do understand the business standpoint as well. It is a billion dollar plant and to not use it to its full capacity is not very smart. The waste itself is already pretty handled and structured as its only one plant in the state.
That’s a pretty interesting article, I liked your summary of it. Personally, since we’ve been learning so much about nuclear energy recently, it seems like it’d be a good idea to keep the plant open. However, I think that they should probably try and find a way to educated nearby residents on the nuclear power plant, so that they can form their opinions based on fact, as opposed to misconceptions and anomalies.
Totally agree with you! Misinformation is the brick wall that is stopping nuclear from growing or receiving any investors. Before we start building more plants, we need the people to support it !!!!
I agree with what you had to say. I think that so many people are misinformed about nuclear energy that it would be almost too difficult to keep plants open anymore.
Misinformation has had the most detrimental effect on nuclear power! The nuclear industry would benefit from public education on the subject; this could really get some people backing nuclear. Private investors would be helpful!